SHORT TAKES : Connery Touts ‘Russia’ Lovingly

Sean Connery says his new post-Cold War thriller, “The Russia House,” offers a picture of the Soviet Union rarely seen in the movies.

The espionage tale based on the John Le Carre best seller dispenses with Bond-style superspy action and spins the tale of a boozy English publisher caught in a web of international intrigue.

The 60-year-old actor said he hopes the film encourages younger people to learn more about the Soviet Union.

“My assistant has a 20-year-old daughter who really knows nothing about the Cold War and such. After she saw the film, she was absolutely taken with Russia. The response by most Americans who’ve seen the film is that they have never seen Russia presented like that,” he said.

The film was shot in the Soviet Union, with cooperation from the government.