Soviet Influence, The: From Turksib to Nightmail

Synopsis

In the early 1930s, a small number of Soviet propaganda films were shown in Britain that excited filmmakers such as John Grierson, Paul Rotha and Basil Wright - luminaries of the British documentary film movement - who were then developing their ideas of film as an art form. THE SOVIET INFLUENCE explores the impact that these films had on British directors by presenting key Soviet works, along with the British films which they inspired. The first release in this occasional series explores the profound effect that the classic, yet little-seen silent Soviet documentary TURKSIB (Viktor Turin, 1929) had on British documentary films, including the celebrated NIGHT MAIL.

TURKSIB brilliantly illustrates the problems faced by regional farmers and trades people, and highlights the need for the Turkestan-Siberian railway. This fine example of Soviet montage cinema was presented to British audiences in 1930 in a version prepared by documentary pioneer John Grierson.
That same version is included here, newly remastered to High Definition and with a newly commissioned score by Guy Bartell from celebrated electronic outfit Bronnt Industries Kapital. It is accompanied by a collection of archival British documentary shorts, all of which were made in the wake of TURKSIB by filmmakers whose debt to the film is very much in evidence. The British films are:

THE WORKERS’ TOPICAL NEWS NO 1 (1930): the newsreel shown at Turksib’s British premiere
AUSTRALIAN WINE (Paul Rotha, 1931): charming and lively promotional film employing Soviet-style montage techniques
THE COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN (Basil Wright, 1931): a celebration of the importance of the British countryside
SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAINS (Arthur Elton, 1932): expressive titles and cinematography are deployed in this lyrical film about farming
THE FACE OF BRITAIN (Paul Rotha, 1935): a passionate and ambitious appeal for socialist planning
NIGHT MAIL (Harry Watt, Basil Wright, 1936): this seminal film applies the aesthetic lessons of Soviet cinema to a very British tale

A 36-page booklet which draws on the writings of John Grierson, Basil Wright, Paul Rotha and others to chart the Soviet influence in the development of British documentary filmmaking is included.

Series

Soviet Influence, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2011

Subjects

Film studies; History

Keywords

cinema - Russia; documentary films; propaganda films

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

163 minutes

Year

2011

Production Company

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Distributor

 

Available from retail outlets