The Cranes are Flying: expressive and soulful film of hope despite the tragedy of war
Mikhail Kalatozov, “The Cranes are Flying / Letyat zhuravli” (1957) A soulful film of hope and optimism amid the cruelties of war, this story of a…
Russian and Soviet Films
Reviews of films from Russia and from the Soviet period (1917 – 1991) including all films made during that time in countries that are now independent.
Experiments in the Revival of Organisms: Soviet science propaganda film blandly ignores a horrifying truth
D I Yashin, “Experiments in the Revival of Organisms” (1940) A curious short documentary from 1940 about a series of experiments on reviving dead or inanimate…
The Mark of Cain (dir. Alix Lambert): excellent documentary on prisons and prison life in Russia
Alix Lambert, “The Mark of Caïn” (2000) Ostensibly a film about the declining custom of tattooing in Russian prisons, its history and how it serves as…
Vinni Pukh trilogy: cartoons boast strong characterisation, wit, cheek and a distinctive and charming animation style
Fyodor Khitruk, “Vinni Pukh” (1969) / “Vinni Pukh idyot v gosti” (1972) / “Vinni Pukh i den’ zabot” (1972) My favourite cartoon featuring Winnie the Pooh as…
Invention of Love: short film challenges us to rediscover our humanity or allow technology to define us
Andrei Shushkov, “Invention of Love” (2010) Came across this elegant and melancholy film short by chance while hunting out another film short on Youtube.com and decided…
Russian Ark: visual travelogue through art and culture meditating on identity, history and time
Alexander Sokurov, “Russian Ark” (2002) At last a film was made with just one take and a well-executed and visually gorgeous film it is too. “Russian Ark” is…
Man with a Movie Camera: experimental film documentary with the camera as central character
Dziga Vertov, “Man with a Movie Camera” / “Chelovek s Kino-apparatom” / “Liudyna z Kinoaparatom” (1929) No plot, no obvious characters or a point of view…
Dead Man’s Letters: post-apocalyptic dystopia is depressive in style and tone but holds out hope for humanity
Konstantin Lopushansky, “Dead Man’s Letters” / “Pisma myortvogo cheloveka” (1986) Depressive in tone but with a hopeful optimism at its end, this film explores how human…
The Space Voyage: space adventure propaganda piece for kids is a little subversive
Vasily Zhuravlov, “The Space Voyage” / “Kosmicheskiy reys: Fantasticheskaya Novella” (1936) In the 1930s, the youth branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, usually…
Aerograd: great visuals of wilderness and flying planes in Soviet war propaganda film
Alexander Dovzhenko, “Aerograd” (1935) It’s a well-made film with stunning shots of wilderness and planes flying in the sky but where would a Dovzhenko film be without…