The Soviet Union in The Soviet Union in the 1920sthe 1920s

Events leading to the “October Events leading to the “October Revolution”Revolution”

2/15 March February 2/15 March February 1917 - Emperor 1917 - Emperor Nicholas II abdicates.Nicholas II abdicates.

Provisional Provisional government continues government continues war with Germany.war with Germany.

3/16 April Lenin 3/16 April Lenin returns to Russia.returns to Russia.

July a large July a large demonstration in demonstration in Petrograd is put down.Petrograd is put down.

Lenin goes into hiding. Lenin goes into hiding.

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The October Revolution and AfterThe October Revolution and After

25 October/7 November 1917 - The Bolsheviks, led 25 October/7 November 1917 - The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Leon Trotsky, seize power in Petrograd. by Lenin and Leon Trotsky, seize power in Petrograd.

First shot fired from battleship Aurora (photo).First shot fired from battleship Aurora (photo). The provisional government is overthrown, and Prime The provisional government is overthrown, and Prime

Minister Kerensky flees. Minister Kerensky flees.

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The Civil War (“War Communism”)The Civil War (“War Communism”)

3 March 1918 - a Bolshevik delegation led by 3 March 1918 - a Bolshevik delegation led by Trotsky signs an armistice with Germany and Trotsky signs an armistice with Germany and Russia pulls out of the war. Russia pulls out of the war.

17 July 1918 Nicholas and his family are executed.17 July 1918 Nicholas and his family are executed. From 1918 to 1920 the Bolsheviks (“Reds”) and From 1918 to 1920 the Bolsheviks (“Reds”) and

anticommunist forces (“Whites”) wage a war to anticommunist forces (“Whites”) wage a war to control Russia.control Russia.

Bolsheviks tighten control of the country, Bolsheviks tighten control of the country, nationalize all industries.nationalize all industries.

1920 the last White forces are driven out of the 1920 the last White forces are driven out of the Crimea.Crimea.

NEP (“New Economic Policy”) 1921-NEP (“New Economic Policy”) 1921-19271927

To get economy going, the Bolsheviks To get economy going, the Bolsheviks proclaim a new policy.proclaim a new policy.

They allow private enterprise. Controls over They allow private enterprise. Controls over culture are relaxed: artists need not culture are relaxed: artists need not necessarily be bolsheviks, just “fellow necessarily be bolsheviks, just “fellow travellers.”travellers.”

A new wealthy bourgeois class appears, to A new wealthy bourgeois class appears, to the disgust of radical bolsheviks.the disgust of radical bolsheviks.

The Power ShiftThe Power Shift

In 1924 Lenin dies.In 1924 Lenin dies. Everyone expects that Everyone expects that

Leon Trotsky, creator Leon Trotsky, creator of the Red Army, will of the Red Army, will be the new leader.be the new leader.

Instead Josef Stalin Instead Josef Stalin emerges and takes emerges and takes control.control.

Trotsky becomes an Trotsky becomes an “unperson”: first “unperson”: first exiled, then finally exiled, then finally murdered in Mexico murdered in Mexico City in 1940. City in 1940.

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Preparing for ConflictPreparing for Conflict

Stalin perceives that Stalin perceives that Trotsky’s idea of Trotsky’s idea of universal revolution will universal revolution will not work.not work.

Fascism is emerging as Fascism is emerging as the new political reality the new political reality in Europe: Mussolini in in Europe: Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany.Italy, Hitler in Germany.

The Soviet Union has a The Soviet Union has a largely agricultural largely agricultural economy with relatively economy with relatively little industry: it must little industry: it must industrialize.industrialize.

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The first five-year planThe first five-year plan

1928 the first plan begins. Objective: to build 1928 the first plan begins. Objective: to build dams, canals, power stations, factories.dams, canals, power stations, factories.

““Collectivization” begins: the peasants must Collectivization” begins: the peasants must give up all their equipment, animals and give up all their equipment, animals and land to “collectives.”land to “collectives.”

Mass arrests take place of “kulaks” (rich Mass arrests take place of “kulaks” (rich peasants.peasants.

Grain shipped abroad to pay for machinery.Grain shipped abroad to pay for machinery. In 1933-34 millions of peasants starve to In 1933-34 millions of peasants starve to

death.death.

Dziga VertovDziga Vertov(David/Denis Kaufman)(David/Denis Kaufman)

1896-19541896-1954

Dziga VertovDziga Vertov

Real name David KaufmanReal name David Kaufman Born in Bialystok, PolandBorn in Bialystok, Poland Pseudonym means “spinning top”, Pseudonym means “spinning top”,

references his Jewishness (dziga = references his Jewishness (dziga = “dreidal” = “top” in Yiddish); also “dreidal” = “top” in Yiddish); also references the turning of the movie references the turning of the movie cameracamera

Vertov after RevolutionVertov after Revolution

1918 began working for 1918 began working for Kino-NedeliaKino-Nedelia (Cine-Week), editing newsreels, later (Cine-Week), editing newsreels, later working on the film car of an agit-poezd working on the film car of an agit-poezd (propaganda train) during Civil War.(propaganda train) during Civil War.

Partners with his brother Mikhail Kaufman Partners with his brother Mikhail Kaufman and wife Elizaveta Svilova.and wife Elizaveta Svilova.

““Cine-Eye”Cine-Eye”

1922 They issue 1922 They issue The The KinoksKinoks (Cine- (Cine-Eye) manifesto Eye) manifesto (from (from kinokino “cinema” + “cinema” + oko oko “eye” and “eye” and okno okno “window”).“window”).

Photo Dziga and Photo Dziga and MikhailMikhail

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KinoksKinoks Aesthetic program Aesthetic program

Programmatic "Manifesto” Programmatic "Manifesto”

““Kino-glaz". Documentary truth. Films as Kino-glaz". Documentary truth. Films as “wall-newspapers”“wall-newspapers”

Using one's eyes (lens as an eye). Using one's eyes (lens as an eye).

"It is far from simple to show the truth, yet "It is far from simple to show the truth, yet the truth is simple." (Dziga Vertov)the truth is simple." (Dziga Vertov)

Cine-EyeCine-Eye

"Our eyes see very little and very badly – "Our eyes see very little and very badly – so people dreamed up the microscope to so people dreamed up the microscope to let them see invisible phenomena; they let them see invisible phenomena; they invented the telescope...now they have invented the telescope...now they have perfected the cine-camera to penetrate perfected the cine-camera to penetrate more deeply into the visible world, to more deeply into the visible world, to explore and record visual phenomena so explore and record visual phenomena so that what is happening now, which will that what is happening now, which will have to be taken account of in the future, have to be taken account of in the future, is not forgotten." (Dziga Vertov)is not forgotten." (Dziga Vertov)

Kino-glaz / Kino-PravdaKino-glaz / Kino-Pravda

““Helping the poor widowHelping the poor widow””

“The Young Pioneers”“The Young Pioneers”

Kino-Pravda #1Kino-Pravda #1

Man with a Movie CameraMan with a Movie Camera (1929)(1929)

An Exercise in Pure CinemaAn Exercise in Pure Cinema

Man with a Movie CameraMan with a Movie Camera (1929)(1929)

Begins with a statement of values: Begins with a statement of values: Against theatre, acting, scenariosAgainst theatre, acting, scenarios

No intertitles (but many bits of text No intertitles (but many bits of text tell the story)tell the story)

Continuation of "Kino-Pravda” Continuation of "Kino-Pravda” conceptconcept

Genre and devicesGenre and devices

Documentary in the genre of “Life of Documentary in the genre of “Life of a City”, perhaps inspired by Walter a City”, perhaps inspired by Walter Ruttman’s Ruttman’s Berlin: the Symphony of a Berlin: the Symphony of a big city big city (1927)(1927)

““Retro” return to the beginnings of Retro” return to the beginnings of film making: the Lumière Bros. film making: the Lumière Bros.

Actually, several cities shown Actually, several cities shown (Moscow, Odessa, Kharkov) (Moscow, Odessa, Kharkov)

DevicesDevices

Much more use of tricks than Eisenstein:Much more use of tricks than Eisenstein:

Rapid cross-cutting – “wake-up therapy”Rapid cross-cutting – “wake-up therapy”

Manipulation of film: splicing together of Manipulation of film: splicing together of two shotstwo shots

Ideological messageIdeological message

Down with NEP (New Economic Policy);Down with NEP (New Economic Policy);

Down with bourgeois values, including feature films; Down with bourgeois values, including feature films;

Frequent shots of advertisement for Frequent shots of advertisement for Woman’s AwakeningWoman’s Awakening ((Das Erwachen des WeibesDas Erwachen des Weibes, Fred Sauer, 1928) – the kind of , Fred Sauer, 1928) – the kind of narrative film Vertov hated.narrative film Vertov hated.

Manual labour versus service; down with bourgeois service Manual labour versus service; down with bourgeois service industries (shots of beer parlours, beauty salons, etc.);industries (shots of beer parlours, beauty salons, etc.);

Lev Trotsky’s quote illustrated (vodka, church and cinema Lev Trotsky’s quote illustrated (vodka, church and cinema as “drugs” used by world capitalism against the working as “drugs” used by world capitalism against the working class).class).

Artistic message:Artistic message:“Laying bare the device”“Laying bare the device”

Film about film-making (self-reflexive).Film about film-making (self-reflexive). Begins with a shot of the movie theatre Begins with a shot of the movie theatre

and reel of completed film.and reel of completed film.

Heroes are the film editor (played by DV’s Heroes are the film editor (played by DV’s wife Elizaveta Svilova), cameraman wife Elizaveta Svilova), cameraman (played by Mikhail Kaufman, DV's brother) (played by Mikhail Kaufman, DV's brother) and the camera itself.and the camera itself.

ConstructivismConstructivism

Glorification of technology, delight in Glorification of technology, delight in watching machineswatching machines

Camera, machines, trains, tramsCamera, machines, trains, trams A “choreography” of machinesA “choreography” of machines Machines as “perfect hands” – humans Machines as “perfect hands” – humans

become machine-likebecome machine-like The camera “orders” the events to happen The camera “orders” the events to happen "I am the machine that reveals the world "I am the machine that reveals the world

to you as only I alone am able to see it." to you as only I alone am able to see it." (Dziga Vertov)(Dziga Vertov)