The movie Alexander Nevsky still is an example of Socialist Realism that dominated Soviet films, but it also demonstrates a shift from a focus only on communist propaganda to attempts at achieving other political goals that were important to Stalin at the time period. Most Socialist Realist films displayed the horrors of capitalism and the depravity of merchants which is also apparent in this movie. But Nevsky incorporates also an element of Russian nationalism. The villain in the movie are the Tuetonic Knights, from what would have been Germany. These knights are true fiends that threaten the mother land of Russia. The fact that the film had to be pulled during the signing of the Nazi Soviet non aggression pact demonstrates the power of the anti German images. Even more convincing is that th movie was released once Germany invaded the Soviet Union as a means to motivate a sense of nationalism against the German invaders. In this respect the movie Alexander Nevsky demonstrates how Socialist Realism was not just about Marxist idealism, but a means to mold public opinion to serve a political agenda.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Chapaev
(1934)
A Popular Russian Film
3 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The 1934 film Chapaev is a popular Russian about a Russian Civil War hero Chapaev. The movie is based on a book by Dmitri Furmonov who wrote on the exploits of A Red Commander during the Russian Civil War, Chapaev. The movie was very successful in Russia and is a classic example of Socialist Realism. The movie demonstrates how the Soviet party leadership characterized the place of military as well as political commanders in the Red Army.
Chapaev is a is a peasant commander during the Russian Civil war who is tough, brave, and capable a capable commander. However his political commander, Furmonov, is the savvy leader behind Chapaev who is able to understand the political consequences of situations. Chapaev was a peasant who had just recently learned to read. He was confidant on the battlefield and able to led men bravely to achieve military victories. Yet it is Furmonov who advises Chapaev on what to do in between battles. In one scene when the Chapaev's troops wanted to pillage a town, Chapaev was influenced by the political officer Furmonov to have his soldiers protect the village. This way they would have the support of the peasants for the revolution. This demonstrates how the political officers are important to the Red Army and also to the new socialist society that requires Bolshevik leadership.
The movie is a classic example of socialist realism in how it depicts the roles of the Bolshevik party in society and how the Bolsheviks want the people to follow.
Chapaev is a is a peasant commander during the Russian Civil war who is tough, brave, and capable a capable commander. However his political commander, Furmonov, is the savvy leader behind Chapaev who is able to understand the political consequences of situations. Chapaev was a peasant who had just recently learned to read. He was confidant on the battlefield and able to led men bravely to achieve military victories. Yet it is Furmonov who advises Chapaev on what to do in between battles. In one scene when the Chapaev's troops wanted to pillage a town, Chapaev was influenced by the political officer Furmonov to have his soldiers protect the village. This way they would have the support of the peasants for the revolution. This demonstrates how the political officers are important to the Red Army and also to the new socialist society that requires Bolshevik leadership.
The movie is a classic example of socialist realism in how it depicts the roles of the Bolshevik party in society and how the Bolsheviks want the people to follow.
Battleship Potemkin
(1925)
Artistic example of Film Photography as well as Socialist Realism
24 May 2005
The photography and editing of the movie is exceptional for the time period. Eisenstein builds upon each scene of the movie leading to the the sailor's revolt and the massacre at the town. As much as the movie is a high point in the cinema, it is also an example of SZocialist Realism. by 1925 the Soviet government actively used the arts, including film, as a means to spread the message of the revolution. Eisensteins portrayal of the revolt on the Battleship Potempkin offers the viewer insight into the message of the Soviet elite. Marxist theory and perspectives of class struggle are demonstrated as the sailors who represent the oppressed workers and the officers who represent the elite of society. Much of the film demonstrates the communist party message and how film was used as a tool of propaganda.
Burnt by the Sun
(1994)
A human portrayal of the Purges.
24 May 2005
The story takes place in the summer of 1936 as the purges begin in the Soviet Union. The main character is a war hero and commander Komdiv Sergei Kotov who is spending the day with his family. The day is interrupted by the appearance of Dmitri, an old boyfriend of Kotov's wife Marroussia.
The tension in the movie is not just from the emergence of Dmitri, but also that Dmitri works for the Soviet leadership and has been ordered to remove threats to the communist revolution, hence the dedication "to all of those who were burnt by the revolution".
The movie offers a humanistic look at the Purges and what they took from those who were affected by them. The movie does fail in explaining what the purges are, so some background reading on the historical events involving the purges and the rule of Stalin will give the viewer a deeper understanding of what the events and the tragedy of the movie.
The tension in the movie is not just from the emergence of Dmitri, but also that Dmitri works for the Soviet leadership and has been ordered to remove threats to the communist revolution, hence the dedication "to all of those who were burnt by the revolution".
The movie offers a humanistic look at the Purges and what they took from those who were affected by them. The movie does fail in explaining what the purges are, so some background reading on the historical events involving the purges and the rule of Stalin will give the viewer a deeper understanding of what the events and the tragedy of the movie.
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