Mocking contemporaneity is acceptable, according to most of respondents, but one should not mock the history!
MOSCOW, February 19, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a study concerning the release of ‘The Death of Stalin’ in Russia.
‘The Death of Stalin’ released in cinemas worldwide in 2017 has become well-known in Russia; 65% of Russians have heard about it, including 14% of those who intentionally sought information about it; 3% say they have seen it. The level of awareness is higher among older respondents (74% of those aged 60 and over), residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (76%) than among young persons (54% of the 18-24-year-olds) and among rural inhabitants (60%).
The movie became widely known because of the ban to be shown in the Russian cinemas and the mockery of Stalin. Remarkably, most of Russians consider that the Russian history and historical figures should not be subject of mockery (70% and 64%, respectively, think so).
Those Russians who have heard something, who know something or who have seen the movie assess the decision of the Russian Ministry ambiguously: 30% support it (37% of the 45-59-yer-olds), 35% oppose it (a further 35% fail to provide an answer). If the movie comes out, 58% are more likely to see it.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 9-10, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Have you heard/is it the first time you hear about the movie “The Death of Stalin” released in 2017? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more | |
I know, I saw this movie | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
I know, I was interested in it but I did not see it | 14 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 16 | |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 48 | 42 | 42 | 44 | 50 | 54 | |
This is the first time I hear about this movie | 35 | 46 | 42 | 42 | 30 | 26 | |
Tell us what you know/have heard about this movie? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who was interested in this movie but did not watch it) | ||
| Total respondents | |
I only know the title/ I know there is such movie | 12 | |
It was banned in Russia | 12 | |
Mockery/ derision of Stalin | 7 | |
I heard about the movie in the media/I watched a trailer/ads | 6 | |
Movie about life and death of Stalin | 6 | |
Negative attitudes towards Stalin. It should not be shown | 5 | |
Comedy/ parody /satire | 5 | |
It caused a stir in Russia/This movie got different reviews in Russia | 5 | |
The movie distorts facts about Stalin | 4 | |
Foreign movie/famous actors | 3 | |
I know nothing/I did not see it | 2 | |
About Stalin’s times | 2 | |
Positive attitudes towards movie. It can be shown | 2 | |
It is based on real events /true | 2 | |
Other | 2 | |
Don’t know | 38 | |
In your opinion, what is acceptable to mock at, and what is not acceptable under any circumstances ?(closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of all respondents) | |||
| It is acceptable to mock | It is not acceptable to mock | Don’t know |
Church | 12 | 82 | 6 |
History of Russia, USSR, Russian Empire | 22 | 70 | 8 |
National specifics and traditions of different peoples | 26 | 65 | 9 |
Russian historical personalities who are not alive | 26 | 64 | 10 |
Army, Russian armed forces | 32 | 62 | 6 |
Russian economic and social problems | 53 | 38 | 9 |
Ruling power | 54 | 37 | 9 |
In January, the Russian Ministry of Culture banned ‘The Death of Stalin’ from being shown in cinemas. Are you more likely to support or to oppose this decision? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who saw the movie/was interested/heard something about the movie) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more | |
Likely to support | 30 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 37 | 34 | |
Likely to oppose | 35 | 46 | 39 | 31 | 33 | 36 | |
Don’t know | 35 | 36 | 39 | 45 | 30 | 30 | |
If ‘The Death of Stalin’ comes out any time soon, will you go and see it or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who did not see the movie) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more | |
Definitely yes | 22 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 31 | |
Rather yes | 36 | 38 | 42 | 41 | 35 | 29 | |
Rather not | 15 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 11 | |
Definitely not | 17 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 19 | |
Don’t know | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!