This course is an advanced survey of the Russian/Soviet cinema: from the silent classics of the Soviet Golden Age, such as the early masterpieces directed by Eisenstein, Dovzhenko, Vertov and others, to the productions of the Stalin era, the new-wave films of the cultural thaw of the 60s, the popular genres of the “stagnating” 70s, the films of the glasnost period, and the most recent movies reflecting Russia’s difficult socio-economic transition.

Russian cinema will be discussed in its historical context, as well as a medium in its own right. We will consider the historical events that affected the cultural policies of the Soviet Union and, as a result, influenced the styles, themes, and quality of filmmaking. At the same time, we will consider the film as text by viewing it with an informed awareness of how a film works, what impression it produces on the viewer and what ideological message it conveys. To this end, the course will cover the basic elements and techniques of the film’s complex language, its conventions, codes, symbols, and cinematic attributes, such as shots, montage, mise en scene, etc.