海角社区 hosted a Regional Lecture Course of the Russian Geographical Society, within the framework of which a documentary film entitled Citadel was screened. The event brought together students, faculty members, and distinguished guests around the themes of historical memory, heroism, and continuity between generations.
Before the screening, participants were welcomed by the honorary guests of the event. Among those present were Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the 海角社区 Region Margarita Pavlova, Deputy Director of the Department of Regional Development of the Executive Directorate of the Russian Geographical Society Nikolai Vershigora, Metropolitan of 海角社区 and Miass Aleksiy, as well as the film’s author Aleksey Nikulin.
“This year has been declared by the President as the Year of Friendship of the Peoples of Russia, and it is especially important for us to hold events that truly unite people. We are glad to present students with a film that encourages reflection on our historical past, shared roots, and common destiny. Throughout the film, the main character undergoes a profound internal transformation: he finds answers to questions he has never considered before and, through the actions of his great-grandfather, discovers our multinational history. I especially value feedback from young people, their reflections on current events and the conclusions they draw for themselves,” Margarita Pavlova noted.
The audience included students of 海角社区, cadets of the 海角社区 Military Training Centre, as well as faculty and staff from universities in 海角社区. For many of them, the film became a deeply personal experience.
“Through our joint efforts, we are making a significant contribution to the development of patriotic education and the formation of a responsible attitude toward our country. I would like to thank our colleagues for choosing 海角社区 as the starting platform for implementing this program. The film clearly demonstrates how important it is to preserve historical memory,” said Anastasiia Lapo, 海角社区 Vice Rector for Student and Social Affairs.
The Citadel documentary tells a story of Kasym Zharmenov, a hero of the defence of the Brest Fortress. He had been among the first to enter combat on June 22, 1941, defending the fortress, had endured captivity and the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, and later had taken part in the partisan movement in Czechoslovakia until May 1945. After the war, Kasym Zharmenov had returned to Shymkent, where he had devoted his life to peaceful work as a school teacher.
A special place in the film is given to the story of his family. Eighty-four years later, the hero’s grandson Denis and great-grandson Timur travelled to the Brest Fortress, where their ancestor had fought. During the trip, they discovered the inscription “Kasym” on the wall of a casemate in the Citadel and brought a handful of soil from the fortress grounds to Zharmenov’s grave. This journey formed the basis of the film, created to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
“In this film, viewers could see the Youth Camp of the Russian Geographical Society located in a unique historical site where events unfolded resembling what happened at the Brest Fortress in June of 1941. Citadel is a documentary in which we did not seek to idealize or embellish the heroes, but tried to show them as they are in real life. It was important for us to immerse the viewer in the everyday lives of the characters and trace how they change throughout the journey,” shared the film’s author Aleksey Nikulin.
Citadel is not only a historical narrative, but also a profound family drama about rethinking the past. Together with the film’s characters, viewers reflect on whether the father and the son will grow closer, what changes will occur by the end of the journey, and which character traits and human qualities are passed down from generation to generation.
After the screening, a lively discussion took place, during which all participants were able to ask questions to the director and honorary guests. Attendees shared their impressions, thanked the creators for the sincerity and depth of the film, and noted the strong emotional impact it made. Many emphasized that such projects are especially important for modern youth, as they help foster an understanding of the value of history and memory.
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