X-Ray Audio: The Documentary (2016)

X-Ray Audio: The Documentary (2016) poster

Cold War Leningrad: In a culture where the recording industry was ruthlessly controlled by the state, music lovers discovered an extraordinary alternative means of reproduction: they repurposed used x-ray film as the base for records of forbidden songs. Giving blood every week to earn enough money to buy a recording lathe, one bootlegger Rudy Fuchs cuts banned music onto such discarded x-rays to be sold on street corners by shady dealers. It was ultimate act of punk resistance, a two-fingered salute to the repressive regime that gave a generation of young Soviets access to forbidden Western and Russian music, an act for which Rudy and his fellow bootleggers would pay a heavy price.

Director: Stephen Coates, Paul Heartfield
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 14 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Country: United Kingdom
Language: English, Pусский
Original Language: en

Keywords

soviet union, vinyl record, short film

More Films by Director: Stephen Coates, Paul Heartfield
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is X-Ray Audio: The Documentary about?
Cold War Leningrad: In a culture where the recording industry was ruthlessly controlled by the state, music lovers discovered an extraordinary alternative means of reproduction: they repurposed used x-ray film as the base for records of forbidden songs. Giving blood every week to earn enough money to buy a recording lathe, one bootlegger Rudy Fuchs cuts banned music onto such discarded x-rays to be sold on street corners by shady dealers. It was ultimate act of punk resistance, a two-fingered salute to the repressive regime that gave a generation of young Soviets access to forbidden Western and Russian music, an act for which Rudy and his fellow bootleggers would pay a heavy price.
Who directed X-Ray Audio: The Documentary?
X-Ray Audio: The Documentary was directed by Stephen Coates, Paul Heartfield.
How long is X-Ray Audio: The Documentary?
X-Ray Audio: The Documentary has a runtime of 14m (14 minutes).
What genre is X-Ray Audio: The Documentary?
X-Ray Audio: The Documentary is a Documentary film.
Where was X-Ray Audio: The Documentary produced?
X-Ray Audio: The Documentary was produced in United Kingdom.