Chlen Pravitelstva (1939)
Directed by Aleksandr Zarkhi
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Political Drama, Propaganda Film |
Run Time - 105 min. |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Completed in 1937, this Soviet propaganda film focuses on the courage of farm-woman Alexandra Sokolova (Vera Maretskaya). Deserted by her husband, Alexandra is forced to till her land herself; her neighbors are of no help at all, while the local government is mired in bureaucracy and male chauvinism. Even so, and despite the sexual advances of her male neighbors, Alexandra emerges triumphant -- even unto squashing the corrupt government officials. In Cecil B. DeMille fashion, The Great Beginning argues for communism and collectivism by demonstrating the consequences of not having these tangibles. And of course, the hero of the hour is Joseph Stalin, lauded in this film as a proponent of freedom and self-determination!
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Themes
Keywords
against-all-odds, against-the-system, bureaucracy, corruption, desertion, government, oppression, woman, women's-issues