After the Fall

It’s the 1990s: the so-called “End of History.” The Soviet Union is no more. Once a promising young painter, Slava has abandoned his career and ideals to go scrounging with a pal from his school days, the consummate wheeler-dealer Lavrin, through the detritus of empire for whatever they can resell on the black market. It’s an anything goes, dog-eat-dog new world order, every comrade for himself. With his lively, springy art, witty dialogue, and sure grasp of character, Pierre-Henry Gomont delivers a penetrating and sympathetic study of the long-suffering Soviet people, and how yesterday’s dreams landed us square in today’s nightmares.