*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The film itself is only a compilation of senseless scenes which have no inherent meaning to someone living outside of Russia.
I won't deny that some of the images and techniques were quite revolutionary at the time (filmed 1928), but the problem with the film is that it has no interest to the intellectual or even the common man. We are merely watching an arranged form of pictures, ranging from a one-arm man beating a horse, to a toothless soldier in the war. Everything in between is awkward, haphazard and quite unnecessary. It would have been possible to invent a forum which kept the viewer interested, but this would not be it, although the method of the director is quite brilliant.
In all, one should only view this if they are an art student, on hallucinogenic drugs, or a student of pre-Tarkovskian cinema.
Everyone else should probably avoid it.
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The film itself is only a compilation of senseless scenes which have no inherent meaning to someone living outside of Russia.
I won't deny that some of the images and techniques were quite revolutionary at the time (filmed 1928), but the problem with the film is that it has no interest to the intellectual or even the common man. We are merely watching an arranged form of pictures, ranging from a one-arm man beating a horse, to a toothless soldier in the war. Everything in between is awkward, haphazard and quite unnecessary. It would have been possible to invent a forum which kept the viewer interested, but this would not be it, although the method of the director is quite brilliant.
In all, one should only view this if they are an art student, on hallucinogenic drugs, or a student of pre-Tarkovskian cinema.
Everyone else should probably avoid it.