Karosta: Life After The USSR (Ghost Town Documentary) | Real Stories
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- Опубліковано 4 кві 2018
- The abandoned military port of Karosta,in Western Latvia has seen some of the most influential and disturbing eras of modern times from Russian Tsarist origins, to Nazi and then Soviet occupation. When the Russian army left in1994 after Latvian independence, Karosta became largely un-inhabited and most structures fell to ruin. In the late 1990s, the area was troubled by high unemployment, street crime and drug problems. This documentary explores how the residents of Karosta have coped throughout the years without infrastructure and order, and examines how community organisation K@2 aims to stimulate positive change by means of art, culture, education,and co-operation to give residents hope of a better future.
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Accidentally found this movie on Netflix. Watched it just like that from the beggining to the end. Very warm, touching, and deep documentary.
A lot has been done over time - organized infrastructure, renovated houses, improved green area. Properties are bought here by Lithuanians who come to relax by the sea. What is seen in the film is in the distant past.
Amazing young man in this documentary, his English is perfect. I wish you all the best and to the artists and residents, and that elderly war veteran God bless him. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪
After watching this documentary, I dreamed for a long time about visiting Karosta. Today I visited it. I can confirm the comments who said it is outdated - true. The abandoned buildings have been demolished. The residential blocks have been renovated, most façades are painted. The Church is also renovated and very impressive. I did not see any strange people there. Even some factories have been built, a really big one will start operating next year according to friend from Liepaja. The beach there is simply amazing. Very nice ruins of the old artillery and cool walk to the sea of 1 km long. There were people doing windsurf. I also visited at night and nothing happened to me. I am thankful to this documentary because it made me aware about Karosta but yes, a lot has changed!
Visited Karosta last year and I have to say it was a rather peaceful place. The Cathedral in the centre is stunning and the ruins along the coast line were epic especially if you visit when the sea is stormy. In terms of the issues mentioned in this documentary, I would say they are mainly just a stigma. At it's heart Karosta is no different than a suburb of Riga such as Kengarags or Ziepniekkalns, both places of which I have lived and had expereinced no problems and felt safe being there. I think it's simply that a largely unjustified negative reputation seems to cling to these Khrushchyovka districts which in reality just house normal people trying to get by in life. I recommend anyone visiting Liepaja to take some time to go to Karosta.
Those people were so interesting and my heart went out to them.. That young guy was so uplifting and spoke brilliant English.
His story of the time he collected bones into a bag, thinking he was taking wood to his mother, tugged at my heart. In some countries, especially my own, if a child had done that, everyone would consider it a traumatic event, and the child would be in therapy for it. But the young man in the documentary told it so matter of factly- probably because he has been through worse, or it is just they way of life there? Seem like tough people.
...wow, i love these kind of documentary...thank you, great job...the music...the camera ...people ...good good goood...
Amazing that this movie exists! The place is truly historical and the movie documents a very unique period when no-one but some artists were interested in Karosta. Irbene near Ventspils was a similar closed town and they had very hard time to keep the radio telescopes safe. Thanks!
This is one of the most warming documentaries I've seen lately. Despite the cultural differences, I felt very much alike.
A very human documentary about the ordinary people in a system ...Amazing to watch and I wish the much luck .
I live in Karosta. Not so bad in here by the way
I think it looks great!
And you have Internet? Wow
Karosta is a shithole...and im from Liepaja
I want to visit you!!!
I want to move to karosta from Canada
Karosta will rise with such promising people. All the best for the near future. Hope to visit this place when it is in it's glory.
The amount of ads is amazing. I will download future episodes to bypass and watch ad free.
Blaming the city council for destroying the bridge is utterly unfair and it's a twisted conspiracy theory. The bridge was about to be closed for renovation (just like the council guy is telling), but then just before any renovation started, an oil tanker Anna from Georgia crashed into the northern part of the bridge due to technical malfunction of the ship's steering mechanism (rumour has it the crew was just too drunk to steer it properly through the opening between the two parts of the bridge). About three years later the Kalpaka bridge opened in a much more beautiful state.
You trust politicians over locals? The D.Mayor is saying they had the money and were about to renovate the bridge, yet don't even clean up the collapsed bridge to make it safe. They have money but they dont even put in street lights for public safety or make the pavements walkable for elderly and children?
It's the same story that played out throughout Eastern Europe, they are sitting on valuable coastal land and the local OWN the land so they will have to bought out if Private Developers want to rebuild. Instead they leave it degrade, lets infrastructure and services fail so people abandon their property and then the Property Developers can buy it for pennies and only then, once a wealthy corporation owns the land, will the council finally find the money to rebuild the roads and the infrastructure.
These documentaries are amazing!
Calm down, falks. This is like 15 years old, no idea why it has resurfaced, anyway it's all cool and much better now! A great place to visit, a great place to live!
Really?! We hope so.
GR. Hollman Yes, really! I have been a huge fan of Karosta for many years. It is a great tourist destination, a beautiful place near unspoilt beaches, forests, there are historical buildings and fortresses. Lots to see and do. Visit and find out more - karostaliepaja@inbox.lv Some people here are not the nicest, but most are cool, and this place has a huge history and an even bigger future, yet prices of apartments, for instance, are still ridiculously low.
no, he is lying.... it is a present situation
no, no, no, not to live. only to visit if you have a lot of money. There is not job totally. That is why youth go to England mostly just after finishing school.
These are beautiful people and a beautiful culture. Hope things have gotten better for them since 2008, at least a little. Wish there were an update on everyone in the video somewhere.
Daisy it is much better, however it depends enormously on whom you ask. Latvians will geberally have more positive opinions, whilst Russians in Latvia will say that everything is bad, because this is what they are programmed to say and to think by Putin's TV. Other than that, it's a really cool place to visit.
Its amazing place. Many changes , and it looks very good now. And we are friendly to people.
I visited last year. It's a nice place, very peaceful, you can feel it's history.
I really loved all the people & great work K@2. Yes an update would be brilliant. I would really like to see what Karosta was like in the past in contrast. If there is any footage or film ?. Please send links. The church/cathederal looked the most intact of all while the rest of the place looks blown away. But everybody needs somwhere they call Home. I think it must of been a wonderful place in it's heyday. Thankyou for upload. Love & Peace JBXX
Im from Karosta. It is a beautiful place. I was singing with others for the k@2 project a song “ celies pirmais stāvs”.(about 23 years ago) I’m Hoping to find that video too.
This was a beautiful documentary, stunning images, good presentation and factual reality from the local people. I really enjoyed watching it.
I was fortunate enough to meet Carl Biorsmark and spend some time in his artists hostel. Great memories. In my opinion he created something truly wonderful in Karosta.
I hope that the neighboring cities have seen this documentary. It should be an eye opening for them to try not to judge them. God bless this place and its people.
Chin chin Luckily they have seen it in reality, which is brighter and better than shown here. It is a popular destination for many. Not just the world famous prison (featured in many other videos and programs) but lots of other beautiful places of Karosta and Liepaja.
What an incredible documentary and such charming residents.
Great documentary! 👏🏼
Been there 21-22.07.21 walked all around it during the daytime and found nothing super dangerous, disturbing or obnoxious. Yes, there are signs of wear and tear of infrastructure. Some objects are abandoned and unused (for instance, discovered some fountains)
Some structures are of unknown nature and purpose, like dumped concrete blocks in forest. Overall, there is a feeling that all this was built on too optimistic major scale, without realistic future vision of how to maintain it. Plenty of pine tree forests within area line, just in the middle of the area. This leads to presence of numerous unofficial trails used for shortcuts to walk shorter distances. If someone would really like to assault you there... well, help would not arrive any time soon, so a potential danger. In some parts of area you can walk for good 30 minutes and see literally no people or passing cars, which is eerie. In some parts it is unclear whether it is abandoned or still inhabited.
On average local residents by a look of them are on lower income and social status than people from other parts of city. During my stay there was no signs of any dangerous or peace disturbing behaviour, hence it actually felt not much more dangerous than other parts of city. Seems like place it gradually recovering from it's gloomy past, more and more people from outside realise that and travel there for various reasons, or even move here, some major landmarks are well maintained and advertised for tourist attractions. Nature here is amazing. Place got so much potential that can be reached by continuous improvement.
Brilliant documentary. Thank you
Great Doc!
this is an old footage, must be 10 years (or more) old. It's not objective and it is not explaining situation correctly. A bit like propaganda. Karosta is truly a beautiful place and has been rebuilt and economically developed for years now. I would suggest to look more into this palace in real time (google earth, visit or another source of information )
It's an older documentary
Instagram shows live posts on the area
I am in the USA now but I still remember situations like in this video just
after the fall of the USSR. It was to be expected as countries
went from the USSR system to a more capitalist system.
Today, I see that most places that were part of the former USSR are now doing well and
many of the countries that were part of the USSR are surpassing
the west with respect to the growth of their economies
and their middle and upper classes.
It’s just an old documentary. Stop assuming everything is propaganda lol
I only wish Blessings for this country!
Country? You realize that's a abendoned USSR millitary base camp?
No need Blessings they have their hero Mr. Putler
All those years ago back in 2002 or 2003 I worked a summer job through a school employment program for students at K@2. A great experience back then - Earned a little money and was part of something exciting - Change was happening all around! Onwards and upwards - We’re all one Liepaja!
Depressing....but there are many such places all over the world & I expect there always will be .
Lovely documentary. I wonder where they all are now and if things have improved..
I like how this old guy talks
Kinda like Porky Pig.
I can truly feel this, growing up poor and with trauma myself, I just want to give them all a hug. Also that young guy was so cute, i'd definately ask him on a date by the ocean. :) Lots of love and prayers sent your way Karosta!
I am him, thank you btw 🙏
@@youtubeuser206 wht the fck really
@@youtubeuser206 really
Fascinating.
wow the structures seam solid, wooden floors, new windows, nice coat of paint. nice lil bake and coffee shop out side nice lil cafe, good as new. as long as the bones are good rebuilding is possible.
Why not post a donation link for K@2 or the residence. Do they need a ferry? Are there community vegtable gardens? Are the youth able to go to school in the city? I do not trust the mayor or council man claiming they will fix the bridge or build a pool. He looks down frequently and appears to be ashamed and lying.
GR. Hollman I agree with you I am sure that helping them is only a lie infront of camera. If someone would be really intrested in helping them it would be done by now. How many years those poor people need to wait for change?....
The bridge is up and running, went over it a few weeks ago, the documentary is from 2008 and K@2 left Karosta in 2009.
+emīlija strazdiņa
Thank you for responding. Did not government build the pool and make it affordable or free? Is there a donation site? Some trust group could set one up on "Go Fund Me" or on the internet somewhere. If they do it must be mentioned on mmultiple times on sites like this one. Blessings to all of you.
+Magda Roguska
Greetings Magda,
You responded compassionately. Do you live in the general area? Best Wishes
+Magda Roguska
There are a number of caring people in the comments here that would contribute.
Very moving film. Humans have a strong instinct for a place called home. God bless the people of Karosta.
This documentary is really misleading. The decision to film in the fall when everything is grey and dirty really didn't represent the place objectively. Just Google Karosta and go to Street View on Google Maps and you'll find that the place is actually really nice. There are loads of beautiful green trees everywhere and the place is sunny and pretty nice and welcoming.
Always be critical when you watch documentaries, they are always trying to tell a story, and will use all kinds of dirty tricks to convince you of what they want you to believe.
Super excited to get into the documentary. But I was gunna say, Latvia has changed quite a bit...
yet again, never been that far west, Liepaja... but it’s hard to imagine it as portrayed in this film.
I was here last summer, it's very much the same
amazing amazing beautiful documentary I love so much .
Would love to come and visit there. Looks like a beautiful country. I would also come to volunteer to clean up the buildings. I hope the buildings where repurposed and not demolished. Please keep the history alive and people happy! ❤️
They have removed a lot of buildings.
@@marinakoseleva why would they remove the buildings
@@deniseshephard3347 because the quality of soviet apartment blocks is utter trash, they where not built to last.
Hi, If I offended you in any way I apologize, I didn’t realize the different dialects, I just enjoy the documenataries.
Mona Cherice Galliardt dialects?! LOL. Well English is then a dialect of Greek or Portuguese. Cause that's about how "close" the languages are. :)
Great documentary really enjoyed that. It seems most of the interviewees Russian speakers instead of Latvian?. When checking the demographics though it seems there are more Latvian speakers than Russian?. Just wondered if there is a reason for this?. Loved the old man who still goes running at his age. He looks about 90 haha.
been to Latvia many times beautiful country
Im proud to be Latvian 🥰 I grew up in Ventspils City about 1 ,5 h drive from Liepaja
And been there several times . Seen Karosta with my own eyes
And thanks for this documentry
Im proud to be Latvian 🥰 I grew up in Ventspils City about 1 ,5 h drive from Liepaja
And been there several times . Seen Karosta with my own eyes
And thanks for this documentry
The boy who had the bag of human bones was a good speaker and very engaging - he should be a tv presenter - i hope he has found success in his life and is very happy
My feelings exactly!!! He was amazing and so uplifting. 😀
I watched this documentary years ago and I immediately remembered the gentleman in the beret with the stammer, like an old uncle. I hope he is well, or at least I hope he passed warm in his bed with a full belly ❤.
Vai kāds no Latvijas arī šo skatās? 🇱🇻
Baiba Azace kas to būtu domājis ka real stories par Latviju...
😎
Jāaaa 🙌🏻
Es
Jā. liels pārsteigums
You should see Karosta now , how it's changeing and I think soon it will be part of city where ppl will go on holidays, i lived there 17 years. And now you can go out even if it's dark 😅
This guy is like 16, talking about when he was a kid all this was different.. What.. The place decayed that much in just 5 years?
I find it very sad that WE Humans can not understand the most basic rule of LIFE, ... Simply LIVE and let LIVE, BE and let BE. We are born into this life, on this planet earth as free beings and the basic needs for each of us is identical. Were I a rich person, because it is all about money, I would most certainly assist in the saving of this remarkable historical site. Not for any government, but rather for the beautiful people, that they could continue to call it home.
stop SHOUTING IN UPPER CASE; it is akin to the nutjob who stalks celebrities or writes angry letters to broadcasters in green ink....we all get frustrated by events in life; the secret is to control it.....
Graham Grimmett shes not shouting she’s just emphasizing that
With all due respect, I am not shouting, rather I am placing emphasis on certain words within my dialog. THANK you however, for the RECOGNITION. "smile".
I left karosta when i was 14 after the military left my family moved to st petersburg to live with my moms retired dad
The people seem perfectly decent. It is as shame there is cruel prejudice. The city should reach out and encourage progress as K@2 does.
now I live in this city as a guest for the next two months and the city does not look sooooo depressed, as shown in the movie)) yes, the pictures in the movie are the same as in real life, but not as scary as it might seem when watching the movie... but looked the movie with great interest))
The move is a bit more than a decade old. A lot of things have improved country vide
Im glad to hear its better now - i remember back in the 70s so many Scottish towns were shitholes - some still are but things have improved in general
Long live Karosta !
Ah I feel like every documentary on this channel is so good! This one is filmed beautifully - the colors, the scenes, everything! Also I love hearing Russian language still going in this region!
Ayne IV except that the Russian language is being unfairly imposed on the locals by soviet-minded colonists and their descendants who wouldn't bother to speak the language of the country where they live, but yeah, beautiful..
ĶTV, well you do you..
Damn this hit me in the feels. I feel bad for these people. It felt weird because it reminds me of my own country, just a poor, forgotten version.
Where are u from ??
Where are you from?
Are you Macedonian or Romanian?
He must be from moldavia
The old man wearing warm jacket inside the building - no heat in winter? Probably.
Well, maybe it’s exaggerated here, or maybe because I have been living all my life and from those photos that are very old in the video, now everything has changed there are no empty houses many factories have opened the area is flourishing and therefore I wish everyone will not regret it
Now this was a great doc. More docs about Europe, please, and fewer docs about Muslims/Muslim wars.👍🏼
I would live there no problem! That young guy has very good English...obviously nothing wrong with the education in Karosta...show me a comparable young Brit or American who speaks another language so well...
He is right, dont stand in judgement from the outside..go there, meet the people and then make up your mind. That young girl also speaks good English...I think its probably a cool place for artists and writers...I would love to go there. Its beautiful in its own, stark sort of way..I think it probably has a lot of really interesting people both young and old.
I think it would be worth working towards making that lovely place into a wonderful living space for kids and everyone. I hope they put a bit of thought into sustainable energy as well as art. I can see they have education nailed. I think I would like it there.
It looks like the litter gets picked up. very clean for its condition.
Hugs for all of you guys
I wish they would film about that beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral or parish right by the apartment building
Looks like Detroit; and for the same basic reasons.
Great documentary! I love all of them, especially on Russia or anywhere in Europe! I would love to see some documentaries on Eastern European Countries! I love the way the Russian language sounds!
Mona Cherice Galliardt Latvia is in Northern Europe. Are you sure you know which people in this video spoke Russian? Because some of them spoke Latvian. Very different languages and phonetics though. Karosta is a very special area, just like Latvia and it's very complicated history. It is much better now. This video is old and out of date. Also I disliked hints of pro-Russian views one can feel from the Russian-speaking population. When in Rome... But then it is also no surprise that colonists behave the way they do in an occupied country, even if it has renewed its independence quite long ago. God bless Latvia!
Yeah most of them spoke Russian. Back in ussr everyone had to learn Russian and Latvia was part of it
Karen Yeg The ones who spoke Russian were Russians living in Latvia. It was not something they have or have had to learn.
There are lots of documentaries about E. Europe and Russia on UA-cam. Just search country names.
Look up bald and bankrupts channel, he travels eastern Europe and speaks russian
Song at @1:16 please please
I wish they would of shown Karosta in the spring time...I bet it's not so bleek...after all the people who live there say it's beautiful. (minus the derelict buildings)
jaccie fulton seasons change the way everything looks. Many of the derilict buildings are actually very valuable architecture and a crucial part of Karostas unique face. :) karostaliepaja@inbox.lv
KTV Thank you for you input! 😊
@@ktv3726 I will visit. do many people speak Russian?
The sad thing is I lived in karosta until I moved to a zaļā birze ( Bedīgā lieta ir ka es dzīvoju karosta bet es pārvācos uz zalā birzē)
41:13 "We have number of projects which is under development. For example; swimming pool."
Looks better than parts of Detroit!
Nice people in this video
Mēli un nomelnošana, es dzīvoju Karostā un jūtos ļoti laimīga
Wasn't this the plan for Europe before the storm. Building a Europe before the greed of the oligarchs took over or was that the plan in the first place.
Not gonna lie - the elderly gentleman with the stutter freaked me out. His stutter reminded me of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter making that slurpy sound.
actually the people seem full of spirit and energy.
Beyond politics, the collapse of Soviet Union has been truly a huge tragedy in basic human level ... in one day they've lost everything, the past, the present and the future ... such ruins across post soviet russia ... everywhere.
17:52 is that skin tone even POSSIBLE!?
WTF
20:45, the guy had no problem buying vodka when he was 7? I don't believe it!!!
I try to understand, y many places in Russia and X-USSR becoming abandoned? Y the government just ignore those places, y peoples migrating out, y... y... y.... i dont find any concrete answer....
Is it safe to visit Karosta?
Yes. I would recommend it especially the Nothern Fort ruins on the beach. The suburb itself has improved a lot since this was filmed almost 15 years ago.
my dumb brain read 'latvia' as 'latveria' and i was like ??? dr doom is that you ??
Hum
there 's such kindness in their eyes ! ... kind people ...
In the description it says the Russian army left Latvia in 1994, from what I know it was in 1991
ivy Strauss well in 1991 wouldn’t it be the Soviet army then not the Russian army
@@jasonsan6708 well latvia got its independence in 1991 so from then on they were an independent country so the Russian soldiers would have no need to be in latvia especially if there's no real Russian government to give them orders, there's a video where the Russian soldiers are kicked out
Time i get out and about,i watched 28.12 sec a must be one sad guy or sick.
1:14 anyone know the music?
Erika
darude - sandstorm
Beautiful isn't it. 😀
No music?
NYC
true hood...wheels stolen off a stroller
Bridge is up and running, the movie is 10 years old!
How’s now ? Better or not ?
I did some research, it seems that the bridge was fixed and the neighborhood is getting more tourism
@@mothmanleon8986 @ thanks for info have a nice day cheers
More video about karosta on you tube.
I didn't know Forrest Gump was from Russia
and i was looking up the film 10 mins ago, what a coincidence
I don’t think my mother would like a gift of human bones, either!
Кто додумался искать "USSR Ghost Town" в Латвии? Лишь бы что нибуть снять, шопопало.
koliei Эх, на территории РФ таких городов немеряно. Сотни. А про деревни вообще молчу.
The reconstruction of bridge was finished in 2008 - you can see that by your selfs: www.celuprojekts.lv/en/oskara-kalpaka-kanala-tilts-2/
So It's kind of an old documentary... or made from footage that has been captured 10 years ago, is that with an intention?
21:19 Gop nik?
18:30 his accent makes me cringe so hard, it's the thickest Swedish stockholmian accent ever.