A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow: From Literature to Documentary Film

Abstract

This research article examines the relationship between the literary text A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow by Alexander Radishchev and the documentary film A Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow: A Special Path by the journalist Andrei Lochak. Drawing on a plot-based framework for the novel, textual analysis, and the concept of intertextuality, the study offers a comparative critique of contemporary Russia through two historical moments: the eighteenth century and the twenty-first century. The findings indicate three salient themes shared by both works. First, with regard to serfdom, although the institution no longer exists in present-day Russia, rural peasants continue to experience severe socioeconomic hardship, shoulder heavy burdens, receive limited support from state agencies, and there is a marked decline in Russians’ willingness to pursue agrarian livelihoods. Second, concerning press freedom, whereas rulers in the past employed legal mechanisms to enforce strict censorship, the contemporary constitution guarantees media freedom and formally prohibits censorship; nevertheless, censorship persists in more subtle and sophisticated forms. Third, regarding women’s status, while women’s social position has generally improved, with women increasingly seeking self-worth and entering traditionally male-dominated spaces, gender-based exclusion and the weight of social expectations remain significant constraints.