In August 1991, Australian journalist George Negus set out on a cross-country trip from Vladivostok to Moscow. Accompanied by only a local guide, his camera crew and a Russian interpreter, Negus passed through the vast interior of the USSR, which until recently had been largely closed to foreigners.

Intended as a portrait of the people living in the Soviet Union, the crew took advantage of improved relations between the historically hostile blocs of the capitalist West and communist East – until political events shifted the film's direction. This excerpt captures the fluidity of documentary filmmakers, who weave stories and capture intense human experiences, even in times of chaos and confusion.

This clip sees Negus and his crew travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, when they discover senior members of the state have staged a coup against the Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. Negus happened to be in the Soviet Union during the final months of its existence, lending the footage historical significance.

Though Negus provides an extended overview for the audience, most of the footage has an improvisational feel that speaks to the crew’s experience and the rapidly evolving situation. It prioritises snatches of image and audio: overdubbed news reports are layered with grainy protest footage and vox pop-style interviews with locals. Audiences also hear statements from international leaders, John Major and George HW Bush, which make the clip feel both local and international in scope. A twist in fate lends Across the Red Unknown its urgent atmosphere, aptly summed up by Negus' comment: 'We are quite literally passing through a piece of history'.