Gorbachev Pizza Hut Commercial (1998) Poster

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10/10
Hey look...it's the pizza guy!
Rodrigo_Amaro31 August 2022
A testament about the social and political situation of Russia after the collapse of Soviet Union is brought to audiences in this delightful Pizza Hut commercial starring former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a very amusing appearance. In it, Gorbachev attends a Pizza Hut where all eyes are on him, specially from a family that begins a discussion about his positive side and the negative as well with a father complaining about his politics, his son giving lots of praise for the man, and the mother just keeps watching them disagreeing until she intervenes for a common ground. The rest is history.

A very smart advertising that sells the brand with great quality and also teaches some minor history lessons and to actually glimpse the reality of how Russians perceive Gorbachev - it's that polarized with ones calling him a hero and others claiming that he's a traitor of the Soviet cause. Now that man is gone, hopefully his legacy will be taken into high regard around the world as someone who provided an openness to the closed Soviet world, causing a major world revolution. But many accidents happened along the way. And let's face it: the man had a great sense of humor to be part of a commercial about the ultimate triumph of capitalism, and he does it with grace, presence and style.

So here's a funny commercial with plenty of humor and adorable moments which perfectly sells the brand and also presents some historical facts and reactions about the Russian people. Very hard to be imitated. 10/10.
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more than a commercial
Kirpianuscus3 September 2022
First, I saw it more than a good comercial. But a realistic portrait of the late Soviet Union in Gorbachev era, early new Russia and the image of the father of perestroika and glasnost.

Sure, the family around the table of Pizza Hut is the main target and tool of seduction.

Because it is pure American propaganda, status defined by dialogue, values, clash between generations and the venerable grandmother defining Pizza Hut as the best thing given by Gorbachev ( ignoring the crisis , socio - economical, more precise ) of 1998.

But the dialogue between characters, pro and against Mikhail Gorbachev, the words of venerable lady and the last "Hail to Gorbachev" is just lovely. At the first sight. Not only for fine job of makers of commercial but for the idealisation of real conflicts of time from Russian society.

Because, indeed,Because of him we have many things ...like Pizza Hut " says more than a commercial can do. It is expression of a sort of cultural conquest.

First, an ex- Soviet leader, with his granddaughter, in Pizza Hut, without guards , without prudence.

Second, the family around the table, the Pizza Hut, like Mac Donald representing, in early "90 years a sort of luxury for many people from East.

Today, after the death of Mikhail Sergeevich and isolation of Russia , this commercial sounds more than powerful. Not as pledge for Pizza Hut ( who is not present in Russia after february 2022 ) but as a fresco of near reality, old hopes and enthusiasmus and skeptikism,the manner to see Russia of Americans , the attitude of a venerable lady in new realities, not ignoring the bitter experiences of the past and the young man and his admirable perspective about a better present.

Short, a historical short film about states of reality and soul.
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