October (Oktyabr)

Engelsk beskrivning
Also known as "Ten Days That Shook the World", connected to the book Ten Days That Shook the World (Online here) by American journalist John Reed, who experienced events first-hand. "Fascinating Russian silent feature which is interested in the final moments ... all of the Russian Revolution which brought the Communist to power."

"October was one of two films commissioned by the Soviet government to honour the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution." One more Eisenstein's masterpiece of edition, using his theory of "intellectual montage".
Directed and written by Grigori Aleksandrov and Sergei M. Eisenstein, based on the book "Ten Days That Shook the World", 1927.
"Eisenstein pulls out all the cinematic tricks he can muster with his impressionistic style and ability construct incredibly complex large-scale mob scenes."

Beginning with the symbolic deposition of the Csar with the toppling of the Alexander II statue in Petrograd in February, Eisenstein's film outlines highlights of the early stages of the revolution amidst joyful and patriotic music. The initial exuberance becomes more somber when the Russians realize that the Provisional government has brought "no peace, no bread, and no land" after five months in power.

Lenin returns to rally the people, but about counter-revolutionaries put down a spontaneous revolt (that inspires the famous bridge montage) Lenin must hide underground until the fateful ten days in October that truly shake the world.

The film is surprisingly even-handed towards the Bourgeoisie government for the most part. However, as the crucial October date approaches Eisenstein juxtaposes images of Napoleon with Menshevik leader Alexander Kerensky and later associates the leader with golden peacocks and oppulance. Contrasted with these obvious symbols are simple images promoting the Bolshevik cause: Bread, Peace, Land, and Brotherhood.