Three Soviet Classics (Earth / The End of St. Petersburg / Chess Fever)

Rating:
Summary: Three very different classic Soviet silents
Review: This special edition by Kino Video presents some excellent examples of Soviet Avant-Garde cinema, and therefore this is a good place to start if unfamiliar with this genre. Along with the visual impact and statements these films make, the musical score - especially for "End of St Petersburg" - is quite appropriate, being orchestral and very well suited to the scenes and feelings expressed in the film. I was most impressed by Pudovkin's "The End of St Petersburg", mainly for its dramatic and expressive images and the fierce passion and tempo overall. This film depicts people's struggle and the social upheavals of the revolutionary period and World War I, and it takes a bit of serious attention to appreciate the information, imagery and emotions packed into this film. As a complete contrast, "Earth", directed by Dovzhenko, has an overall slower pace, a simple storyline and different feel, yet it also expresses the plight of ordinary people, in this case farmers facing the challenge of modern technology (a tractor) and neighbourhood disputes. The picture quality isn't the best in "Earth" which is a shame because in this kind of film the images are important, but as you get into the style and feel of it, you can still appreciate the value of this film also. Finally, for a complete change of pace, "Chess Fever" by Pudovkin again never fails to put a big grin on my face as it makes a farce of people's obsession with chess during the Chess World Championship held in Moscow in 1925. This is a very clever and poignant short comedy (half an hour) that really hits the spot. Look out for the black/white checkerboard design on the main character's socks, cap, scarf and hankerchief! All three films together give a good overview of the range of Soviet films of this genre and period, and it's nice to have them on the one DVD.