09/21/06 Battleship Potemkin

Battleship Potemkin (1925), directed by Sergei M. Eisenstein

watched w/ Leslie; DVD rental (North American Video) @ home; suggested by Leslie

Perhaps one of the most influential and landmark films of all-time, this silent era epic is a moving and stirring account of Russian history. The movie recreates some of the heated events that lead up to the Bolshveik Revolution in 1917, leading to the demise of the Tsarist provisional government and the seeds of what was to become The Soviet Union. Eisenstein is key in portraying a part of his country's history, and showing with unflinching candor the conditions of society that were present in his day. "Battleship Potemkin" is the stage set for an uprising of sailors, who must suffer oppressive handling of their provisions, self-respect and basic human rights at the hands of their superior government officers. When forced to eat rotten maggot-infested meat, the men begin to protest. At this insubordination, the officers make an example of some by ordering them to shot execution-style by their fellow crewmen. When this injustice is challenged by the men, it starts an all-out riot of mutinous proportions as the officers are killed off and the men liberated. As the revolutionary lead man Vakulinchik is killed, his body is seen as a symbol to fight for, as the sailors join forces with the local people of port town Odessa to fight off the Cossacks. The revolution is brutal and bloody, as the government seeks to systematically slaughter all of the insurgents involved. The dramatized movie reflects the harsh conditions, treatment and ultimate sacrifice that is made in blood by the people of Russia to stand up against oppression. The chilling scenery, close-up focus on facial expressions and weapons of warfare, and haunting score tell the tale all too bluntly for the silenced audience. It is a truly remarkable film, and one that will always be remembered for its frankness and political message. It is a subject matter that is all too well-known in many parts of the world, and the terrible effects of war will always be captured by such filmmaking as Eisenstein's seminal picture of revolt.

5 out of 5 stars