Yea, but her Russian is not yet up to the level when she can have whatever job.. i was wondering why they wouldn't make her a US English instructor for the KGB - she is a native speaker!
I think she had some spending money - we saw her in that scene in a food store evaluating some food item while Oleg walked by.. So,…

I see your point. I think she had a lot of company of that sort during the day, but in the evening, they left her alone to relax and have her snack :)
TBH, don't know how KGB handled subjects like Martha in real life back then.. My life was ways removed from anything like that.
Just going to college, getting my…

:))

It's common knowledge that all religious hierarchy in the USSR were on KGB payroll or themselves KGB. How do you think they were allowed to exist? (commies being anti-religion and all).

isn't that the same Jesus?

The potato with caramelized onions and mushrooms ??? Sad??? not at all :)

a bit better? you do a mean understatement :)

ha ha
first off, it's borshch, I hate that spelling you guys do in the US.
second, washing beets with cold water and putting that water in mason jars - does not make that shit borshch.

I think it's a mix of both concern and "handling". It's complicated, but you're right, cold calculation takes up the biggest percentage of the motivation for her to go check up on him.

it was either that or dead silence, so I guess better of bad choices :)

and well. unlike poor Nina (that's who's poor I'd say)

I guess we had more personal freedoms back then in the old CCCP :)
jokes aside, I don't think live-in guards were necessary. I am sure she was watched any time she would venture outside to buy potatoes, and in the apartment, really, what would she do that would be subversive? It's not like there was, you know, "the…

But don't they have that nice quilted piece over their bed? that's nice

Yes there were special stores, but NOT to get colorful stuffs, ha ha ha
just Levi's and bubble gum :)

That's why she didn't do it just yet. Him sneaking out at night (3 am!) was awfully suspicious.

About Martha's decorating, I think she had to live with what she was given since she doesn't have any source of income yet. Gabriel pointed it out to her - once your Russian improves, you will have opportunities, job prospects, your life will improve, etc.
But yes, they are setting the mood, as you are saying, but it's…

Galina is the woman who comes over to give Martha language lessons and she mentions Volodya too as another "the help" type of person. I am sure both are KGB.
When Gabriel knocked on Martha's door, she said "Galina? I am coming!" She thought it was Galina, who else? :)

what does a Gap or a Macy's have to do with that? They hold copyright/trademark on color internationally? that's nonsense. There was plenty of colorful stuffs around.
as an example - when I was 17, I purchased this summer top + capri pants combo in a clothing store unimaginatively called "House of Clothes" (Dom…

There was plenty of fruit and vegetable variety - but in season only at farmer's markets - "bazary". In winter, you would have all the preserved, picked and fermented stuff that you would make at the end of season to hold you over till next season. mmmm, oh so so good! My mom's marinated tomatoes, sauerkraut, pickles,…

I totally agree. I always commented that with regards to Burovs' apartment - come on!!! so much darkness, hideous dark blue wall paper, no sunlight, drab subdued hues everywhere. I know it is like metaphor for the existence they are leading but - COME ON!!! Nobody lived like that in Moscow in the 80s, especially the…