Plot synopsis

Host Nikolai Svanidze dedicated this episode of the documentary series to Felix Dzerzhinsky. Life in Russia in 1922 in almost all its manifestations depended on this man. Legends have been formed around his name for decades.
In 1922, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK) was renamed the Main Political Directorate (GPU) under the NKVD. At that time, Lenin was already seriously ill. Trotsky wrote that the leader's condition had worsened already at the end of '21. In December, Lenin informed the members of the Politburo with the following note: "Insomnia has gotten worse as hell. I'm afraid I won't be able to report either at the party conference or at the congress of Soviets." Vladimir Ilyich spent most of his time at Morozov's former estate - Gorki.
At that time, there was a terrible famine in Russia, the total population of the starving regions was about 32 million. Almost every seventh citizen of Soviet Russia in 1922 was in a state of starvation, close to cannibalism. At the same time, doctors recommended that Dzerzhinsky pay special attention to his diet. The menu of the Chairman of the GPU under the NKVD of the RSFSR consisted of: game consommé, salmon, Polish-style cauliflower, veal cutlets, spinach, steamed sterlet, sturgeon, turkey with pickled apples...

commentaries

Сценарии телесериала «Исторические хроники с Николаем Сванидзе», с 1913го по 1933 год. [Scénarios de la série télévisée « Chroniques historiques avec Nikolaï Svanidzé », de 1913 à 1933], Marina ZHUKOVA, Амфора, 2014

- Screenplay

Selected in the following festivals or events :

- Historical Chronicles with Nikolay Svanidze, (kinoglaz.fr), 2026

Images

Felix DZERJINSKI (Феликс Эдмундович ДЗЕРЖИНСКИЙ) 1877-1926