October

• Film Title: October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
• Original Year of Production: 1928
• Studio: Sovkino
• Director: Grigori Aleksandrov, Sergei M. Eisenstein
• Cast: Vladimir Popov as Aleksandr Kerensky, Vasili Nikandrov as V.I. Lennin Layaschenko as Konovaloz

    The Film October starts out with revolts against the Russian Monarchy during 1917. One of the first images show the statue of Tsar Nicholas being torn down. This paints the perfect image of the times in which the film is trying to depict. Widespread poverty and civil unrest was felt by millions of Russia’s proletariat. During this time of Russia’s history wars such those in Manchuria against Japan in 1905 and World War One left Russia and her citizens tired of war and it’s out of touch government. The government, headed by the Tsar, was unable to get much needed supplies to soldiers as well as paying off the national debt. In addition, workers felt further alienated by the Monarchy and the Bourgeioise and demanded for a social revolution. Eventually the Monarchy steps down and the provisional government, headed by Aleksanr Kerensky, comes into power. However, the provisional government is unable to handle all of Russia’s problems and Lenin and his Bolsheviks aim to seize control. This film primarily portrays the fight for power against Korensky’s provisional government and Lenin’s Bolsheviks.

This film seems to differ from other films on the Russian Revolution because of it’s focus on Kerensky and the provisional government. Although the film focuses a lot on Kerensky it’s biases against him and provisional government are obvious. The provisional government are portrayed as weak and un-assure of themselves. Compared to the momentum filled Bolsheviks, Kerensky and his provisional government are portrayed as fighting a losing battle against the people’s revolution and Communism. The thesis of this film can possibly be different when asking different people. The fact that the film was mostly silent and had very little words leaves more interpretation than films with more dialogue and sound. However, seeing that this film was commissioned by the Soviet government and the persistent portrayal of the people’s Revolution is visual throughout the film, the most logical answer would have to deal with the Revolution. In the film the idea that the proletariat’s revolution under Lenin and his Marxist ideas of class dissolution as a destined end to the Monarchy and the provisional government’s rule are clearly present. For example, when Kerensky was shown leaving the Winter Palace, Kerensky was portrayed as a coward rolling out of town in an automobile pictured with an American flag. Images such as this belittle the opponents of Russia’s Revolution.

Unless one would have actual knowledge of the events of the October Revolution, the film could possibly be viewed as non-fiction. However, it does seem obvious that the film could be categorized as a Bolshevik propaganda film. An example of such propaganda was the portrayal of members of the provisional government as being played by weird and hideous actors. This could have been a deliberate effort to sway the public. Another example that taunts the historical accuracy of the film was the storming of the Winter Palace. The film focused alot of energy and portrayed this as an important act in the collapse of the provisional government. It seems that the actual storming of the Palace was actually less important, dramatic and concise than the film portrays.  Such examples act to withdraw complete historical accuracy by the directors of this film. In conclusion, this film and its message of Revolution against the provisional government at the hands of the Bolshevik were intended to draw popular support for the Bolsheviks and their Marxist ideas of class equality and unification under the terms of propaganda.