Cinema with Meaning: 25 Soviet Films Recommended by Harvard University

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Film students should surely know the history of cinema and be familiar with the best films of all time. Harvard University has recommended 725 films of various genres and directions for compulsory viewing for its students applying for a PhD in film studies. We would like to invite our readers to pay attention to domestic films from this list.

"Revenge of the Cinematic Operator", 1912, Vladislav Starevich

In the animated film by Vladislav Starevich, a great tragedy and a funny comedy, betrayal, betrayal, love and revenge were contained in 13 minutes. This is a real masterpiece of puppet animation and silent movies.

Films by Sergei Eisenstein

The Harvard list includes four works by the Soviet director at once: "Battleship Potemkin", "October", "Alexander Nevsky" and the first episode of the film "Ivan the Terrible". Undoubtedly, each of these films is of interest not only because of the semantic load of the pictures, but, first of all, it was in these films that the director's truly revolutionary approach to filming was reflected.

Films by Vsevolod Pudovkin

Three films by the Soviet director Vsevolod Pudovkin are still the subject of study not only at Harvard University, but in many prestigious film schools around the world. The film "Mother" based on the novel of the same name by Maxim Gorky, "The End of St. Petersburg" and "The Descendant of Genghis Khan" - these films have forever entered the history of world cinema.

Films by Dziga Vertov

Found their place in the list of recommendations of Harvard University two films from one of the founders and theorists of the documentary genre, "Cinema-Eye" and "The Man with a Movie Camera". The latter is often referred to as one of the greatest documentaries in history.

"According to the law", 1926, Lev Kuleshov

The film, shot by the innovator of early Soviet cinema and based on Jack London's story "The Unknown", is a projection of a particular incident from life to the whole of society. Particular emphasis is placed on the topic of law and morality.

"Turksib", 1929, Victor Turin

Viktor Turin's documentary about the construction of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway is included in the list of the best documentaries of the 20th century. In the film, the past and the future are intertwined, the connecting link for which is the "Steel Way".

"Earth", 1930, Alexander Dovzhenko

It is not for nothing that the dramatic history of a simple peasant family in the era of collectivization is called an epoch-making work in all respects. An amazingly strong, emotional and vivid film in which the director managed to fully convey the feelings and aspirations of ordinary people in the early Soviet period. It should be borne in mind that Alexander Dovzhenko himself did not have a professional education in the field of cinema.

"The Cranes Are Flying", 1957, Mikhail Kalatozov

Mikhail Kalatozov's film about the impact of war on the fate of ordinary people does not need any special presentation. It is not so much about the war as about people, about their feelings, emotions, broken lives. Human characters and experiences are shown realistically and honestly, and their actions are evaluated not from the point of view of morality, but in the context of historical events.

"The Ballad of a Soldier", 1959, Grigory Chukhrai

This film is not even about the feat accomplished by 19-year-old Alyosha Skvortsov. He is about his life, about the way home and, probably, to himself. He was one of the millions of boys who went to the front. Therefore, the picture turned out to be so lively, touching and clean.

Films by Sergei Parajanov

The list of Harvard University includes two films by Sergei Parajanov, "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" and "The Color of Pomegranate." It was after the release of these two films that the Soviet film director, screenwriter and artist began to be called one of the founders of poetic cinema and the new Soviet wave in cinema.

Films by Andrei Tarkovsky

Two films by Andrei Tarkovsky were awarded the attention of professors at Harvard University: "Andrei Rublev" in 1966 and "Nostalgia" in 1983. "Andrei Rublev" is considered one of the best national films and in 2012 entered the list of the best films in the history of world cinema according to the magazine "Sight & Sound". The director filmed "Nostalgia" in Italy, after which he was forced to stay abroad, since he was denied the right to spend three years in Italy.

"Ordinary Fascism", 1965, Mikhail Romm

An outstanding film by a Soviet director, despite the fact that it tells about the history of fascism, draws an invisible parallel between two political systems: Nazi Germany and the USSR. "Ordinary fascism" was far from immediately visible to Soviet viewers, for the Soviet ideologist Suslov immediately saw in it a veiled hint of the existing system of the country of victorious socialism.

"War and Peace", 1967, Sergei Bondarchuk

The adaptation of the novel of the same name by Leo Tolstoy turned out to be truly epochal. The scale of the work done is amazing today. Incredible shots using several thousand people in one scene, special effects and shooting techniques at the time of the creation of the picture were truly revolutionary. The grandeur of the war scenes contrasts with the detail of the peaceful shots, the depth of the written fates and lives.

"King Lear", 1970, Grigory Kozintsev

The screen version of the classic, translated by Boris Pasternak and interpreted by Grigory Kozintsev, is extremely poignant and timeless. The director managed to reproduce the Shakespearean tragedy on the screen in the smallest detail, adding volume, strength and depth to it.

"Ascent", 1976, Larisa Shepitko

Heavy and strong film about the events of the Great Patriotic War. The picture is so realistic that the viewer feels as if inside those terrible days, and these feelings seem to penetrate you through and through. Larisa Shepitko invested in the timing of her film by understanding why the war should not happen again.

"Tale of Fairy Tales", 1979, Yuri Norshtein

An impressive and atmospheric cartoon film is not intended for children at all. He is philosophical, very serious and more like a game. "Tale of Fairy Tales" - about memory and war.

"Russian Ark", 2002, Alexander Sokurov

This film, which fits into 96 minutes of screen time, was filmed with only three takes. Seven months of rehearsals, 800 extras and one day of shooting. “Russian Ark” is undoubtedly a unique film, and the director's experience will still be studied and tried to be implemented.

At a time when the whole world is trying to comply with the quarantine or self-isolation regime, only good films can distract from the problems of reality for a couple of hours. Cinematography at any time can comfort the viewer, immersing him in an atmosphere of kindness and charm. The BBC recommends preparing a warm blanket for viewing, plenty of cookies or popcorn, and enjoy the best films that can give a sea of positive emotions.