A Classic in Russian Cinema and Montage Filmmaking

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2011)

This was an excellent movie. There is a huge amount of historical significance to this film, in the realm of history and film history. The elements of montage filmmaking within this film are what makes it great. Despite the fact that it was made for a Russian audience that had endured years of political turbulence, the film holds particular elements that can also attract a younger audience, often with no knowledge of the history surrounding the film. That, is what truly makes "Battleship Potemkin' a great film; it goes beyond the limits of language and promotes a historical quality within filmmaking. The film's narrative, which follows a traditional structure, is easy to follow, and is only interrupted by intense moments which contain elements of montage filmmaking. These elements add quite a bit to the film, showing the disjointed state of politics within Russia during this period and highlighting the traditional narrative structure. The film's altering of the actual historical ending of the revolution within Russia actually fits well with the structure of the film, but also is seem by some critics as a blatant promotion of Russian nationalism.