Tsar to Lenin: an incredible compilation of archival footage of the Russian Revolution
Herman Axelbank and Max Eastman, “Tsar to Lenin” (1937) Presented by Mehring Books and the
Tag: Propaganda Films
Films made with an obvious bias to serve a larger agenda or to mitigate a controversial topic and make it safe for general public consumption.
German and German-language Films
Algol, Tragedy of Power: modern Faustian morality tale of individual and social corruption with a conservative message
Hans Werckmeister, “Algol, Tragedy of Power / Algol, Tragödie der Macht” (1920) A wonderful science
The Transatlantic Tunnel (dir. Maurice Elvey): film of ambition and sacrifice let down by plot, acting and narrow vision
Maurice Elvey, “The Transatlantic Tunnel” (1935) A visually handsome if very flawed science fiction film,
Gibel’ Sensatsii / Loss of Feeling: good-looking film about robots and workers versus capitalists
Aleksandr Andriyevsky, “Gibel’ Sensatsii / Loss of Feeling” (1935) A very handsome-looking film made in
The Death Ray: early Soviet silent with plenty of action, skulduggery and even some poetic film-making
Lev Kuleshov, “The Death Ray / Luch Smerti” (1925) A silent Soviet action thriller that
Terry Jones’ Barbarians (Episode 1: The Primitive Celts): demonstration that victors write history to flatter themselves and demonise others
Terry Jones, “Terry Jones’ Barbarians (Episode 1: The Primitive Celts)” (2006) This droll history lesson
The True Story of Black Hawk Down: too much detail and not enough overview of the Battle of Mogadishu as a historical event
David Keane, “The True Story of Black Hawk Down” (2003) A very detailed documentary about
The Century of the Self (Episode 4: Eight People sipping Wine in Kettering): too much focus on politics, not enough on culture and society
Adam Curtis, “The Century of the Self (Episode 4: Eight People sipping Wine in Kettering)”
The Century of the Self (Episode 3: There is a Policeman inside all Our Heads – He must be Destroyed): a stroll through an amusement park of curious cultural fads and trends
Adam Curtis, “The Century of the Self (Episode 3: There is a Policeman inside all
The Century of the Self (Episode 2: The Engineering of Consent): the use of psychoanalysis as tool for social control
Adam Curtis, “The Century of the Self (Episode 2: The Engineering of Consent)” (2002) This