October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1928)

A Masterpiece!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD is a documentary-style retelling of the Russian Revolution that saw the rise of Lenin and his Bolsheviks and the overthrow of the royal family. It comes across as a piece of propaganda and was directed by Russia's most famous director, no less than Sergei Eisenstein. The situation was a complex one and that complexity comes across well in this fast-paced silent film which is packed with memorable imagery and epic-feeling crowd scenes.

(Flash Review)This is a political power struggle war film around a political uprising in Russia during 1917 which I will avoid regurgitating the historical details of as I'll probably get them wrong as it took some brain power to figure everything out in an old silent film. Ha. Anyway, this echoes many cinematic themes of the more famous Battle of Potemkin (1926). The shot framing was full of great diagonals and great use of black and white contrasts. Probably influenced by the Russian Constructivism art movement that began in 1913. More of a fill geek film to watch these days.

I found this silent Soviet Union film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, from directors Sergei M. Eisenstein (Strike, Battleship Potemkin; Ivan the Terrible, Parts I and II) and Grigori Aleksandrov, I was hoping it would be a worthy entry. Basically the events of 1917, in Petrograd, Russia are re-enacted in this documentary style film, from the end of the monarchy in February to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April, counter-revolutionaries spontaneously revolt and the order of Lenin's arrest occurs in July, by late October the Bolsheviks prepare to strike, these are the ten days that will shake the world. While the Mensheviks waver their opinions, the palace is infiltrated by an advance guard, it is the lead of Anatov-Oveyenko to attack and sign the proclamation that dissolves the provisional government. Starring Vasili Nikandrov as Lenin, Nikolay Popov as Kerenskiy as Boris Livanov as Minister Terestsenko. This film served as a tenth anniversary celebration of the overthrown provisional government and impersonal tribute, it is satirical and overtly political, I found it a bit hard to follow on occasion, and it does not have the same grip as Battleship Potemkin, but with a montage of realistic and dramatic material it has bits that gained my attention, a watchable silent historical epic. Good!

I saw this film for film history class and hated every second of it. The movie is so full of symbolism and fast editing that you can't enjoy it unless you have an extensive knowledge of the time period in what is being shot and the director. The people who were there for the revolution didn't even understand the film. I mean come on if they couldn't understand it, how am I supposed to enjoy it when I don't have the slightest idea of the Russian revolution. Not to mention the film is major long! It gave me a headache and as soon as it ended I ran for the door and did not look back. If someone wants you to watch this movie just run the other way and don't look back. You'll thank me later. The film is good on editing, but other than that I could not enjoy it. I could not get a sense of character development nor could I identify any characters for that matter. There is no sound, no color, just fast paced movement and random symbolism scenes cut in. Everyone I talked to in my film classed agreed it was one of the weakest and most boring movies we saw in class, and I agree with them. There are those that enjoy this movie, right on man, but don't try to tell me why because I honestly saw it, judged it, and have already made up my mind. I will never watch this movie again.