Film Control Moves to Kinoresbel
1922
The Belarusian government and its administrative operations had to be created from the beginning. It was relatively easy to form a Central Executive Committee and name people to fill space, but creating the structure of government is an entirely different thing. Belarusian Archives documents show that the Belarusian People’s Commissariat of Education, or Narkompros, handled film.1
One of the films Narkompros allowed was the French compilation called Mysteries of New York. This was probably the French re-editing of three American serials from The Exploits of Elaine, The New Exploits of Elaine and The Romance of Elaine2. The American film journal Photoplay reported that it did well in Europe.3
French Poster for Les Mystères de New-York.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165946405
The Exploits of Elaine poster, 1914. Film distribution in the USSR since 1924.
Source: https://babs71.livejournal.com/824244.html
Watch the video below. The scene echoes the poster above.
Archival documents also show that the Belarusian government decided early in 1922 to create a separate organization to handle matters regarding cinema, Kinoresbel.4 It was created under Narkompros.5
The creation of Kinoresbel seems to be NEP (New Economic Policy) driven. An October 16, 1922 document from the legal counsel of the Belarusian Narkompros states that once Kinoresbel was officially up and running as of June 1, 1922, one of its main purposes was “seeking capital – no longer as freely provided by the state as before.”6 Those same documents show that Anton Balitsky, who, according to the Biographical Dictionary of Central and Eastern Europe of the 20th Century, was the Deputy Commissar for Education in Belarus from 1921 to 1926,7 supported the creation of Kinoresbel. However, another undated document in the archives shows that Balitsky later failed in his attempt to prevent the transfer of cinemas to Kinoresbel. 8
Anton Balitsky
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anton_Balicki._Антон_Баліцкі_(1930).jpg
A document dated May 13, 1922, confirmed photographer Moise Dinershtein, who had been the head of the Belarusian Rabis, was named Manager of Kinoresbel and outlined his powers, such as the ability to enter into contracts, to make purchases from state offices or non-state institutions and individuals, and to make loans. He also had the ability to sign papers with the State Bank, and to take "all actions provided for by the regulations of Kinoresbel." 9
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Moise Dinershtein.
Source: https://ru.openlist.wiki/Динерштейн_Моисей_Иосифович_(1893)
Documents also show that Samuel Rakhlin moved from his position as head of the Main Political Directorate, known as Glavpolitprosvet, to a position as the number two man in Kinoresbel.10 He and Dinershtein had big tasks ahead. Archival documents show that Kinoresbel quickly took control of three cinemas in Minsk: the Modern, Eden, and Giant. We know that because the People’s Commissariat of Social Security of Belarus requested daily tickets be set aside in the Eden and Giant for the disabled.11 Kinoresbel responded that it would provide such tickets only for the month of August.12 The Giant needed extensive repairs, because “the ceiling was threatening to collapse.”13 The Modern was quickly pressed into service. Kinoresbel made arrangements for free passes to the theater for children from orphanages.14
Looking back, we can see that Kinoresbel faced several major problems. Art Historian O.I. Silvanovich 15 addressed them in a 2022 paper on Kinoresbel to a conference on Historical Memory and Intercultural Communications. The paper was called Kinoresbel: First Attempt. In the paper, Silvanovich looked at the size of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus in 1921. He told the conference that the SSRB was not large enough at the time for the “full-scale development of state film distribution.”16
A second major problem was obtaining films. Kinoresbel said it had a number of films but they were either in storage or “out on rental.” They were The Sleeping Princess, Let Us Be Like the Sun, and Love Under the Southern Sun (or Goats and Kids). We have not found information on any films under those names.
Rakhlin wrote in a report in the fall of 1922 that the films shown in Minsk at the Giant and Eden from January 1 to June 1, 1922 “were of a random nature, and those shown at the Modern were of the vulgar kind.”17
1 30 мая 1921/ 30 May 1921 Справка No 5781/Reference No 5781, Народный Комиссариат Просвещения Белоруссии сим удостоверяет что с расформированием Фото-Кино отд. Главполитпросвета, все кинотеатры г. Минска переданы Киноресбелу на право заведывания, распоряжения и эксплуатации их по усмотрению Киноресбела/The People's Commissariat of Education of Byelorussia certifies that with the disbandment of the Photo-Cinema of the Main Political Education Department, all the Cinema-Theaters of Minsk have been transferred to Kinoresbel, Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 18.
2 Les Mystères de New York, 1915. European Film Star Postcards 11 April 2019 https://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2019/04/les-mysteres-de-new-york-1915.html Accessed 30 Sept. 2025.
3 “Harvesting the Serial” Photoplay Magazine Vol. 11, No. 3, 1917 February p. 24; “Plays and Players” Photoplay Magazine Vol. 10, No. 4, Sept. 1916, p. 94-95.
4 В коллегию/To the Collegium. Проект организации Кинопрокатной конторы возник у нас еще в феврале/“The idea of organizing a film distribution office first arose back in February.” Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/documents 20-22. The memo says the idea arose in February and was presented to the Narkompros Collegium in March 1922.
5 Положение о Белорусской прокатной Кино-Конторе [Киноресбел]/Regulations on the Belarusian Film Distribution Office [Kinoresbel] Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ) / National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42. 42 опис/inventory 1. дело/file 133 документ/document 12.
6 Заключение юрисконсульта Народного Комиссариата Просвещения Белоруссии по вопросу с ревизии Киноресбел/Conclusion, Legal Counsel of the People’s Commissariat of Education regarding the audit of Kinoresbel, 1911 15 Oct. Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 32 and 32b.
7 Roszkowski, Wojciech and Jan Koffman Biographical Dictionary of Central and Eastern Europe of the 20th Century 2008 Routledge p. 53.
8 Недатированный/Undated. В Горисполком/To the City Executive Committee/No. 6257. Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB) Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 6.
9 9 мая 1922/9 May 1922. Мандат/Mandate Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 1.
10 9 мая 1922/9 May 1922. Недатированный/Undated. Выписка из приказа №129 Extract from Order No. 129 Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 3, дело/file 2013, документ/document 12.
11 29 июля 1922/29 July 1922. Из С.С.Р.Б. Народного Комиссариата Социального Обеспечения/From the People’s Commissariat of Social Security, Number 2121. Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 25.
12 1 июля 1922/1 July 1922 В Наркомпрос В ответ на ваше отношение от /// от 29/УII с.г. за № 2123/ To the People's Commissariat of Education and Science In response to your request dated 29/YII of this year, No. 2123 No. Number 118. Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 24.
13 Отчет о Деятельности Киноресбел за время с І-го июня по. І-е октября 1922/ REPORT About the activities of Kinoresbel from June 1 to October 1, 1922 Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 16, опис/inventory 2, дело/file 176, документ/document 59 and 59b.
14 18 июля 1922/18 July 1922. Постановление/Decree Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/document 10.
15 At the time, Silvanovich was a Candidate of Art History at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.
16 Сильванович О. И./Silvanovich, O.I. Киноресбел: Первая Попытка/Kinoresbel: First Attempt Историческая память и межкультурные коммуникации/ Historical memory and intercultural communications Материалы Международной научной конференции/Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference «Белорусская государственная академия искусств»/"Belarusian State Academy of Arts" 24 июня 2022/24 June 2022 c.38/p.38.
17 1 августа 1922/1 August 1922. В Народный Комиссариат Рабоче-Крестьянской Инспекции/ To the People’s Commissariat of Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection Национальный архив Республики Беларусь (НАРБ)/National Archives of Belarus (NARB). Фонд/Collection 42, опис/inventory 1, дело/file 133, документ/documents 39-42.