Exploring the 90s Teenage Experience in 'Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!'
The Series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" – A Journey into the Teenage Era of the 90s
"Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!", a captivating series by Ilya Aksenov, recently launched on the streaming platform Premier, offers more than just a coming-of-age tale set in the early 1990s. It’s a heartfelt odyssey into a distinct epoch of Russian history, depicted through the lens of teenagers living in a small provincial town. This project magnificently intertwines nostalgia, tragedy, and humor, producing a profound and intricate portrayal of the very era of initial capital accumulation.
Teenage Life Amid Social Changes
The narrative of the series unfolds in 1993, in the Tula region of Russia. The protagonists – schoolboys Sanya, Vovka, Ilya, and the fiery-haired Zhenya – fill their days exploring the nooks and crannies of their town, spending hours behind garages or atop apartment buildings, all while dreaming of what the future holds. However, the typical adolescent struggles they grapple with intermingle with the harsher realities posed by their families and surroundings.
Sanya's family stands as a quintessential representation of how varying generations navigated transformations. His mother is a market seller of Turkish linens, while his father, a college lecturer, feels lost in the dizzying whirl of societal evolution. Another striking character is Uncle Alik, a veteran of the Afghan war, burdened by post-traumatic stress disorder. His nightly efforts to resist reckless actions and scenes involving handcuffs latched to radiators serve as a symbolic representation of battling internal demons, seemingly haunting the entire nation.
From Adolescent Turmoil to National Awakening
One of the series' remarkable elements is the parallel it draws between the characters’ maturation and Russia's growth in that turbulent decade. The 1990s, a period of initial capital accumulation, is not depicted through the conventional lens of the glamorous or brutal criminal underworld, but instead through dusty yards, abandoned factories, and the giddy oblivion often characterizing youth.
This authentic portrayal sets Aksenov’s work apart from other cinematic pieces about the 90s, such as Kantemir Balagov’s “Tightness” or Boris Akopov’s “Bull”. Here, excessive dramatization and attempts to romanticize the decade are absent. Instead, viewers are treated to an honest and refreshing perspective, reminding us that even amidst societal catastrophes, youth remains youth.
Cinematic Style and Actor Performances
Aksenov, known for his work in guerrilla cinema and various independent endeavors, continues to hone his distinctive style in “Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!” Focusing on the actors' performances and character dynamics rather than extravagant visuals, his approach allows for a raw emotionality to take center stage. Nonetheless, the cinematography by Alexey Filippov deserves notable recognition: wide-format shots infused with the elements of wild provincial nature transform the Russian hinterland into a sort of Wild West.
Among the acting revelations is Stepan Devonin, who portrays Sanya's father. His character—a cultured educator secretly drafting a novel while selling at the market with his wife—evokes genuine empathy and respect. Yuri Borisov as Uncle Alik and Nikita Pavlenko also provide profound, well-crafted representations of their roles.
A Teenage Era of Violence and Dreams
The series' title belies its surface-level playfulness. “Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!” signifies a period of adolescence where fear and discovery walk hand in hand. A potent symbol of the age appears in the very first episode: a black BMW that becomes emblematic of violence and the criminal world. Yet, the series masterfully navigates through a balance between dark comedy, drama, and the adolescent experience of awakening, leaving the audience free to interpret the narrative threads in their own unique ways.
Final Thoughts
More than just another series chronicling the 90s, “Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!” is a nuanced and deeply resonant effort, showcasing through the lives of its youthful characters the massive transformations occurring in Russia during one of its most pivotal periods. By weaving together threads of tragedy, humor, and nostalgia, Ilya Aksenov crafts a work that entertains, moves, and provokes contemplation about how both personal and societal maturation invariably involves pain and growth.