Artem Golenkov

Basic Red

The film recounts the fate of two Soviet legendary models from the 60s. Dreams of contracts worth millions were not an option for Leka Mironova and Galya Milovskaya, and macaroni with tomato sauce or doughnuts at a Kuznetsky Most snackbar were the only gastronomic delicacies affordable for these workers on 5th-grade wages (models and cleaners were paid the same amount).

Even a government minister was powerless to change the selection of shops and the marketing strategies of Soviet department stores, let alone the models, at least concepts of the female body, hygiene and clothing improved largely thanks to them. Choosing your own style of dress and make-up seems a paltry personal liberty, but even this negligible right was problematical for a Soviet citizen. Since followers of fashion, trendsetters and other ‘undesirable elements’ were of no use to the Soviet land, such people were unable to dream of a career, prospects for the future, tranquillity or contentment. Leka Mironova worked at the All-Union House of Models but had to forsake this privileged ‘house of fashion’ after pressure from above. Galya Milovskaya was photographed for all the top fashion magazines in the USSR, but after her photos were published a few times in the foreign press the model had to leave the country.

The film Basic Red was shot in Moscow, where the model Leka still lives, and in Paris, Galya Milovskaya-Dessertine’s new home. These legendary figures from the Soviet catwalk perform household tasks and go for a stroll, answering questions about the present and recalling the past.

Artem Golenkov
Born in 1983, graduated from the Military University as a specialist in military journalism, worked for radio, researched aspects of radio drama, presented programmes and prepared reports. Subsequently took up a post as television reporter. The film Basic Red is his debut in documentary filmmaking. Golenkov is also a creator of video art.