This engaging documentary explores a little-known chapter of ideological rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. Determined to demonstrate the superiority of the Soviet system over Western capitalism—embodied globally by Coca-Cola—Joseph Stalin commissioned master Georgian beverage craftsman Mitrofan Lagidze to formulate a distinct Soviet soft drink. The narrative highlights the creation of legendary herbal and fruit sodas, alongside the famous historical anecdote of Soviet Marshal Zhukov requesting a customized “White Coke” (clear Coca-Cola) to consume the beverage without appearing to embrace American cultural imperialism. Combining archival discoveries, cultural analysis, and humor, the film reveals how even carbonated beverages became weapons of diplomacy, identity, and soft power.
