Published on: 2026-09-10
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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For the 100th anniversary of Gorky Park, subordinate to the capital Department of Culture, which Moscow will celebrate in 2028, viewers will be presented with the documentary-feature film “Eternal Garden.” The film will tell about how the park has changed over the decades and what role it has played in the life of the city.
The film consists of two episodes, each 44 minutes long. The director was Nikita Kononov, and the screenwriter was Alexey Kobyalkov.
The creation of the film was preceded by extensive research work. The authors studied archival documents, eyewitness accounts, historical photographs, and video materials. Thanks to this, viewers will be able not only to get acquainted with the history of Gorky Park but also to take a journey through the pages of its past.
From the early years of operation to wartime
The first episode will cover the late 1920s and the 1930s. The history of the park begins in the 1920s: initially, this territory hosted the 1st All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft-Industrial Exhibition, and on August 12, 1928, the Central Park of Culture and Leisure opened to visitors. On that day, instead of the expected 20 thousand guests, more than 100 thousand came.
The central figure of the series will be Betty Glan — the first director of Gorky Park. Through her memories, the story of the creation of a space that transformed from an urban area into a large-scale center of culture, sports, and public life is revealed.
The First Years of Gorky Park in the Documents of Director Betty Glan
The guide through the pre-war era is the image of the gardener of memory. Together with him, viewers will be transported to the virtual alleys of the 1930s, witness sports celebrations, dance evenings on the “Island of Dance,” and discussions about what leisure should be like for the Soviet person.
The film will also depict mass carnivals: the first of them in 1935 gathered 120,000 people, with 200 artists, 100 directors, and two thousand performers involved in its preparation. In winter, the park turned into a skating rink covering 125,000 square meters, which welcomed up to 20,000 visitors daily.
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Another storyline tells about the relationship between Betty Glan and Maxim Gorky. The authors refer to the park director’s memories of the writer and his attitude towards the place that later came to bear his name and became one of the main symbols of Moscow.
The first episode will also show how the culture of mass leisure was formed: sports grounds were developed, the first winter entertainments appeared, concerts and public events took place. Historical episodes will alternate with modern footage of the winter festival “Journey to Christmas” and the work of the greenhouse, emphasizing the continuity of traditions and the connection between different generations of visitors.
The narrative will move from pre-war life to the Great Patriotic War. Despite air raids, Gorky Park continued to operate: concerts and literary evenings were held here, and air defense training sessions took place. In 1943, a large-scale exhibition of captured military equipment was organized.
From the post-war years to the present day
The second episode will transport viewers to the post-war years, when the park experienced a new phase of development. The screen will feature footage of large-scale celebrations, exhibitions, cultural events, and other significant happenings of the second half of the 20th century.
The main heroine of this episode will be Elizaveta Fokina, the director of Gorky Park. Among the scenes to be recreated on screen are the water ballet performances of 1985, international youth festivals, and concerts.
A special place in the project is dedicated to cinema. Episodes of the films “Circus” and “I Am Walking Through Moscow” were shot in the park, and the final scene of the movie “Assa” featuring Viktor Tsoi’s performance was created in the green theater.
The next period is connected with the changes at the end of the Soviet era. The film tells about the emergence of rock culture, the activities of Stas Namin and the Soviet-American band he created, “Gorky Park,” as well as the creative environment formed around his studio. Archival materials and rare photographs will alternate with contemporary footage from Neskuchny Garden and the Stas Namin Theater.
Close-up. How the Stas Namin Theatre is arranged
The final episodes of the film will depict the present time. Spring work preparing the green spaces for the new season and the life of the park will symbolize the continuity of its history. For a whole century, this place has remained a point of attraction for Muscovites and visitors to the capital.
“Parks of Moscow” is a large-scale urban initiative aimed at creating comfortable, modern, and multifunctional recreational areas for the residents and guests of the capital. It unites more than 50 park territories that have become attractive places for sports, culture, family leisure, and communion with nature. The project not only preserves unique landscapes and ecosystems but also fills the parks with new infrastructure.
On the mos.ru portal appeared large-scale special project, dedicated to the development of key areas of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and construction. The special project helps to learn how the capital has changed over the past years, what initiatives aimed at making city residents’ lives even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its inhabitants in the near future.
On the project page “Culture, Heritage, and Leisure Industry” You can learn about how architectural monuments are preserved in the capital.
Moscow is the center of the country’s cultural life and ranks among the leading metropolises in the number of museums and exhibition halls. The city has created a film cluster that unites the MosKino film plant on Ryazansky Prospekt, the Gorky Film Studio, and the MosKino film park.
Quickly get the main news on the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
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