policy of glasnost, ustured in new era of openness with the west, and under another of his policies, perestka, he attempted to navigate his country's communist economy into a new era of capitalism. by 1991, peter was failing and along... became the new russian state's first president, boris yelson. this documentary tells the story of the eight years of jelsson's leadership under russia's attempted transition from communism to capitalism. it is an often tragic story of the fall of once proud superpower, the hardships of millions of ordinary people, and the rise of new breed of ultra rich oligars. it is also the story of how russia has become the state it is today.