Three Songs of Lenin

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Audience Member Dziga Vertov's THREE SONGS ABOUT LENIN [1934]: After making one of the greatest films of all time, MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA in 1929 director Dziga Vertov continued to make various films. One such film was the 1934 pro-communist propaganda film, THREE SONGS ABOUT LENIN which "documents" Russia celebrating the life and achievements of the leader of the Russian Revolution & founder of the USSR Vladimir Lenin through three anonymous songs about Lenin. Although it's a heavy handed propaganda film and becomes rather dull to look at certain points, this short offers a vague insight into historical era's views about a key figure in the wake of their death. Considering that Vertov during in the wake of the 1917 Russian Revolution (like many Russians at the time) became deep believers of communism isn't surprising that the death of Lenin in 1924 affected many Russians deeply. Since this film was made 10 years after Lenin's death, THREE SONGS ABOUT LENIN is a definite relic of a time long gone. This short film isn't that bad, it's just way too preachy for my tastes which is why it gets a simple 50% from me. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member <a href="http://cooltext.com"><img src="http://images.cooltext.com/2071330.png" alt="My Review" /></a></a> <a href="http://s955.photobucket.com/albums/ae34/radboviemiot/Decorated%20images/?action=view¤t=lenin.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae34/radboviemiot/Decorated%20images/lenin.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Few documentaries were as totally realistic as a tribute to the founder of the Soviet state, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, that I would never ignore this one. I enjoyed the Eisenstein-directed works such <i>Ten Days That Shook The World</i> and <i>Battleship Potemkin</i>, both of which were either reenactments of or based on true events, but if I was actually looking for something that deified him through actual footage, then I've finally found it. Here comes another fine addition to my list of films that portrayed the ideals of communism. Released in the Soviet Union on November 6, 1934, <i>Tri Pesni o Lenine (Three Songs Of Lenin)</i> was directed by Dziga Vertov and structured around three anonymous folk-themed songs that celebrate the achievements of the country and Lenin's role in creating them. The first segment concerned a young Muslim woman "in a Black Prison [that] was my Face", while the second dealt with the funeral of the hero and the third the accomplishments of his glorious rule. Out of all the segments featured it was the second that really moved me, for its crowds appearing in mourning and I would sympathize with them. In all of his appearances throughout he was seen as a direct and unpretentious man who was tirelessly in work. I see that the director did an excellent job in filming and editing the footage, all in the old black and white quality print, that it made the documentary a powerful piece of propaganda - and also a source of reference in history class lectures. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Awful Stalinist propaganda attempting to claim the invaluable heritage of Lenin and of the Russian Revolution for Joseph Stalin. Two stars for the terrific footage of the early Soviet society and Lenin himself. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Hero-worshipping propoganda taken to an absurd extreme. The first "song" is unremarkable, the second one (about Lenin's death) is downright boring. Things pick up a little bit for the final piece ("if only Lenin could see our country now!"), which features some dynamic editing and interesting shots, but still the message is so ridiculously over-the-top ("if you're feeling sorrow, visit Lenin's corpse and your sorrow will drift away like water!") that it's hard to get into it. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Three Songs of Lenin

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