How does the last of the great Soviet construction sites live today? / Redaktsiya

Today is the premiere of a significant Redaktsiya documentary about the Baikal–Amur Mainline (BAM), the final major construction project of Soviet socialism. Once hailed as the "highway of courage," the line fell into obscurity after the USSR collapsed. Recently, plans to complete and expand the line—now involving convict labor—have revived interest. The film follows the history of the BAM and its unique community of residents, the "Bamovtsy," who settled near the line after being brought there as workers. Highlights include the early days of construction, the staggering cost exceeding a trillion rubles, the life of workers in tent camps, and how the line's existence shaped culture and infrastructure in the region. Viewers learn how the builders adapted to harsh conditions, the role of foreign equipment, the construction of tunnels like the Severomuysky, and the challenges of modernizing a route still vital for rail traffic. The documentary is organized around a set of timecodes—starting with an introduction at 00:00, followed by a look at the origin of BAM at 01:20, a discussion of its costs at 13:20, and an exploration of the workers' living conditions at 16:00. Throughout, it examines how the line shaped communities and continues to be relevant, with additional moments at 1:07:10 discussing the lack of asphalt, at 1:08:22 describing the Severomuysky tunnel, and concluding with reflections on nostalgia at 1:52:10.