(Irina Pantaeva in person)
Showing: May 30, 8pm, MTC

Granted, there’s more than one in the world – an unusual woman who comes from an unusual place who is living an unusual life. Even so, we nominate Irina Pantaeva from Buryat Mongolia, Northern Siberia, supermodel, actress, and activist on behalf of her people. The trajectory of her life from the shores of Lake Baikal to the island of Manhattan, and so many other places in between, is a testament to “following your bliss.” Siberian Dream is the tale of a culture in transition as reflected in the life of a woman in transition. But no matter where her journey leads her, Irina is never far from her roots. We are pleased to have Irina Pantaeva present with us at this screening. In addition, a six-minute excerpt from Julien Bryan’s Peoples of the Soviet Union (1952 edition), which shows Buryat Mongolia in the 1930s, will also be screened.

(2006, 56 min., in English and Buryat with English subtitles.) – G.R.