Russian Language List

Strip of film with pictures of movie projectors geralt (Pixabay)

Early Soviet Films

The Soviet films best known to Westerners are from the early Soviet period. Those made before 1932 are often innovative, often avant-guard. Between 1932 and 1955 the government required that films by in a style known as Socialist Realism. This meant that they had to have clear storytelling, characters worthy of imitation, and they had to promote Soviet values. This often meant made the films dull and formulaic, but a films of this period rose above these limitations to become classics.

Well-Known Early Soviet Films (1917--1955)

  • Аэлита (1924)


    Aelita Queen of Mars
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  • Необычайные приключения мистера Веста в стране большевиков (1924)


    The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks
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  • Броннносец «Потёмкин» (1925)


    Battleship Potemkin
    Dramatization of the 1905 mutiny on the battleship Potemkin over an attempt to feed the crew wormy meat. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein whose work is of great interest to students of film.
  • Человек с киноапаратом (1929)


    The Man With the Movie Camera
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  • Земля (1930)


    Earth
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  • Чапаев (1934)


    Chapaev
    This war movie was one of the most popular films of the early Soviet period. It is about a Red Army commander who battles heroicly for the revolutionary cause. Though clearly propagandistic, it nonetheless was well received, reportedly because of the way it humanized the hero.
  • Весёлые ребята (1934)


    Jolly Fellows
    Yelena, a flirty student from a school for upper-class girls is attracted to a young man named Kostya who plays the flute and sings. Though he is a humble shepherd, she has mistaken him for a famous orchestra conductor. Meanwhile, Yelena's maidservant (Lyubov Orlova) has noticed him too and is attracted to him. Yelena invites him to the school where further misunderstandings and hilarity follow.
  • Movie poster shows circus performers. At center a young woman dances in a long evening dress.
    Цирк (1934)

    Цирк (1936)


    Circus
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  • Волга, Волга (1938)

    or Colorized in HD
    Volga, Volga
    A delegation from a village travels on the Volga river to Moscow to participate in a talent show. Among the group is a female letter carrier (Lyubov Orlova) who has written a catchy song called Volga, Volga.
  • Александр Невский (1938)


    Aleksandr Nevskiy
    Depicts the defeat of the Teutonic Knights by Prince Alexander in the 13th century when they attempted to invade Novgorod. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The acting, costumes, and action are deliberately stylized as if this were an opera. Very highly regarded for its style and skilful use of moving pictures to tell a story.
  • Иван Грозный (1944)


    Ivan the Terrible
    Another masterpiece by Sergei Eisenstein. Depicts the first part of the reign of Russian king Ivan IV "the Terrible" (or in modern English, "the Formidable").
  • Небесный тихоход (1945)

    (Link is to the 2012 colorized version)
    Heavenly Slug (probably should be The Sky Slug)
    In this lighthearted war comedy four buddies vow not to fall in love until World War II is over. But their resolution starts to falter when they a squadron of female aviators and a pretty journalist show up.
  • Весна (1947)


    Spring
    A female scientist (Lyubov Orlova) obsessed with her research in the area of solar energy broadens out when she is asked to participate in a film called Lady Scientist.
  • Укротительница тигров (1954)


    Lady Tiger Tamer
    A girl from a circus family (Lyudmila Kasatkina) achieves her dream of becoming a lion tamer.
  • Мать (1955)


    Mother
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Started learning Russian in 1995 after comming in contact with the Russian-speaking community in New England. He became fluent in 2002 and now speaks it at home. He enjoys teaching the language and creating teaching tools.