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Fragment of an Empire

Play trailer Fragment of an Empire 1929 1h 25m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 100% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
At the start of this silent Soviet feature, Russian sergeant Filimonov (Fedor Nikitin) is a proud soldier under the imperialistic czar. However, after his darling wife (Lyudmila Semenova) goes missing, he sets out to find her. In doing so, he begins a journey that exposes him to a new world of political ideas. By the time he finds his wife in the arms of an aristocrat, Filimonov is a man transformed, one who sympathizes with the Bolsheviks who urge revolution.

Critics Reviews

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Roy Chartier Variety [Fragment of an Empire has] clever direction and photography, coupled with a story that exceeds in entertainment value most from Russia. May 8, 2020 Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times In certain respects this film is a trifle sketchy, but it is nevertheless impressive and imaginative. May 8, 2020 Full Review Emjo Basshe The New Masses Fragment of an Empire shows that the cinema artists of the Soviet Union are never satisfied with just one technique, with one theme or a single triumph. They keep on experimenting, creating, discovering. May 8, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row As bold and uncompromising as its director, and its central performance by Nikitin is a truly exceptional work, some of the best acting of the silent era. Rated: 4/4 Sep 4, 2019 Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension By delving into Filiminov's fractured, conflicted mind and heart (intertitles often represent the tortured hero's inner monologue), Ermler makes his film's ultimate conclusions more persuasive on an emotional and psychological level. Aug 30, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Normally not too much of a fan of silent films, but this one's long shots and montages do it a big credit. Plus, neat fourth-wall breaking ending. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Fragment of an Empire

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Fragment of an Empire

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Movie Info

Synopsis At the start of this silent Soviet feature, Russian sergeant Filimonov (Fedor Nikitin) is a proud soldier under the imperialistic czar. However, after his darling wife (Lyudmila Semenova) goes missing, he sets out to find her. In doing so, he begins a journey that exposes him to a new world of political ideas. By the time he finds his wife in the arms of an aristocrat, Filimonov is a man transformed, one who sympathizes with the Bolsheviks who urge revolution.
Director
Fridrikh Ermler
Genre
Drama
Runtime
1h 25m