Grotesque and captivating

Rating: Null/10 (10 May 2011)

Sergei Einstein's silent film, Bronenosets Potyomkin, captures real life events from 1905. It's been named as one of the most influential propaganda films of all time. I don't exactly agree with this, but I do think that Einstein did a wonderful job at showing us the injustice and brutality of actual events. One of the scenes that stood out to me was when the crew was fed rotten, maggot infested meat. I was extremely disgusted by this scene, but thought Einstein did an excellent job at showing us what their life was like aboard the ship, even though it might have been dramatized. There were a number of vivid and grotesque images that stayed in my mind even after I watched it. The Odessa Steps was one of the most violent scenes that I have seen. Einstein did a fabulous job at creating shots that were rapid and sharp. It enhanced the feeling of panic as the civilians run down the stairs. The close-ups used by Einstein of the panicked civilians really captured our class' attention as we gasped and cringed. I believe that the use of these zoom shots added to the drama and emotion of the audiences. In the beginning of this scene he zooms out and captures the full flight of stairs and the mass amounts of helpless civilians. This caused me to feel a sense of panic as I watched this scene due to his shot of the larger picture. As a propaganda film, Einstein did a wonderful job at making us feel sorry for these sailors. Although, this movie wasn't my favorite, I do think that Einstein created a action-packed silent film that had us at the edge of our seats. He did a wonderful job at grabbing our attention even though there was no sound.