Tuesday, October 9, 2018

October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1928)

October 09, 2018
October: Ten Days That Shook the World is a Soviet silent historical film directed by Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov in 1928. Actually, it is a dramatization about the 1917 October Revolution commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the event. Firstly, the film is released as ‘October’ in the Soviet Union. The film was re-edited and released internationally as ‘Ten Days That Shook the World’. The film is produced by a group of Soviet filmmakers led by Sergei Eisenstein. Plot: It’s not a narrative film. So, there no linear narrative or arrangement of the film story here. The film story is with the elation after the February Revolution and the establishment of the Provisional Government, depicting the Tsa’s monument. The film slowly moves to point out it’s the same story of war and hunger under the Provisional Government. The October Revolution is dramatized in this film making the dates of the events. April 1917, July 1917, October 1917, October 24, October 25 and October 26 are the main dates events are showed in this film. In April, Vladimir Lenin returns to a railroad station with his supporters. In July 1917, the events of firing and cutting off the working class people in the city are shown. Genereal Kornilov advances with his troops on Petrograd ‘For God and Country’. General Kornilov is arrested. In October, 1917, the Bolshevik Committee votes to approve Lenin’s proposal to revolt. In 24 October, Lenin returns to the smolny after four months in hiding and takes control of the uprising on the eve of the 25th. In 25th October, the Cruiser Aurora sails in as the workers take control of the bridges. The events of Military Revolutionary Committee and Provisional Government’s events and works are shown. In 26th October, the new government sets about building a new state, passing decrees for peace for the land. Story: The screenplay of the film is written by Grigori Aleksandrov and Sergei Eisenstein. The film story is about 1917 October Revolution occurred in Soviet Union. Cinematography: Cinematography is done by Vladimir Nilsen and Vladimir Popov. The film is released in 1928. Director Sergei Eisentein and Grigori Aleksandrov have made it in a new style. It is silent film and in white and black. There are many contemporary filmmaking technologies are lack of in the film. For example, camera movement is not here. To know about its cinematography, we need to describe about its shot division, mise-en-scene and lighting system. Shots: Different kinds of shots have been used in this film. For example, close shot, mid shot, wide shot. Besides, the shots are taken in different way or in different angle. For example, low angle shot, eye angle shot etc. but there is no camera movement in this film. There is no tracking shot or trolly shot or top shot. Mise-en-scene: In this film the arrangement of the scenery and props is done in very difficult way but skillfully. Most of the scenery or the props or sets of the scenery are set naturally. But sometimes the props and sets are done with artificial way but skillfully. Lighting: There are some studio shootings in this film. But there is outdoor shooting too. Light is used artificially in this film especially in indoor shooting. But in outdoor shooting, natural light is used skillfully. Acting: Vladimir Popov, Vasili Nikandrov, Layaschendo and many others have performed in this film. The film is like documentary style. It is one kind of docu-fiction. Actually, the performers are very skilled but Sergei Eisenstein has taken some non-actors too. For example, a factory worker has played his role as the leader of the provisional government. Sound and Music: The music of the film is composed by Dmitri Shostakovich. It is a silent film. But background music is re-edited and emerged in the next time of its release date in 1928. Editing: The film is edited by Eduard Tisse. It is made with montage. It is new style in this film that Sergei Eisenstein has used in his several movies. It is not a narrative style film but the editor has edited it in a new style that the audiences will seem it has created a meaning fully.
October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1928)_Movie


October: Ten Days That Shook the World is a Soviet silent historical film directed by Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov in 1928. Actually, it is a dramatization about the 1917 October Revolution commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the event. Firstly, the film is released as ‘October’ in the Soviet Union. The film was re-edited and released internationally as ‘Ten Days That Shook the World’. The film is produced by a group of Soviet filmmakers led by Sergei Eisenstein.

Plot:
It’s not a narrative film. So, there no linear narrative or arrangement of the film story here. The film story is with the elation after the February Revolution and the establishment of the Provisional Government, depicting the Tsa’s monument. The film slowly moves to point out it’s the same story of war and hunger under the Provisional Government. The October Revolution is dramatized in this film making the dates of the events. April 1917, July 1917, October 1917, October 24, October 25 and October 26 are the main dates events are showed in this film. In April, Vladimir Lenin returns to a railroad station with his supporters. In July 1917, the events of firing and cutting off the working class people in the city are shown. Genereal Kornilov advances with his troops on Petrograd ‘For God and Country’. General Kornilov is arrested. In October, 1917, the Bolshevik Committee votes to approve Lenin’s proposal to revolt. In 24 October, Lenin returns to the smolny after four months in hiding and takes control of the uprising on the eve of the 25th. In 25th October, the Cruiser Aurora sails in as the workers take control of the bridges. The events of Military Revolutionary Committee and Provisional Government’s events and works are shown. In 26th October, the new government sets about building a new state, passing decrees for peace for the land.

Story:
The screenplay of the film is written by Grigori Aleksandrov and Sergei Eisenstein. The film story is about 1917 October Revolution occurred in Soviet Union.

Cinematography:
Cinematography is done by Vladimir Nilsen and Vladimir Popov. The film is released in 1928. Director Sergei Eisentein and Grigori Aleksandrov have made it in a new style. It is silent film and in white and black. There are many contemporary filmmaking technologies are lack of in the film. For example, camera movement is not here. To know about its cinematography, we need to describe about its shot division, mise-en-scene and lighting system.

Shots:
Different kinds of shots have been used in this film. For example, close shot, mid shot, wide shot. Besides, the shots are taken in different way or in different angle. For example, low angle shot, eye angle shot etc. but there is no camera movement in this film. There is no tracking shot or trolly shot or top shot.

Mise-en-scene:
In this film the arrangement of the scenery and props is done in very difficult way but skillfully. Most of the scenery or the props or sets of the scenery are set naturally. But sometimes the props and sets are done with artificial way but skillfully.

Lighting:
There are some studio shootings in this film. But there is outdoor shooting too. Light is used artificially in this film especially in indoor shooting. But in outdoor shooting, natural light is used skillfully.

Acting:
Vladimir Popov, Vasili Nikandrov, Layaschendo and many others have performed in this film. The film is like documentary style. It is one kind of docu-fiction. Actually, the performers are very skilled but Sergei Eisenstein has taken some non-actors too. For example, a factory worker has played his role as the leader of the provisional government.

Sound and Music:
The music of the film is composed by Dmitri Shostakovich. It is a silent film. But background music is re-edited and emerged in the next time of its release date in 1928.

Editing:
The film is edited by Eduard Tisse. It is made with montage. It is new style in this film that Sergei Eisenstein has used in his several movies. It is not a narrative style film but the editor has edited it in a new style that the audiences will seem it has created a meaning fully.

Watch the full movie 'October: Ten Days That Shook the World' (1928) here... 


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