Why are film montages in movies so compelling? Learn about the origins and effectiveness of the Soviet montage, as well as discontinuity editing and other filmmaking techniques—and political statements—that arose from the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. 

Concepts

film, the russian revolution, film making, the soviet union, vladimir lenin, cinematography, propaganda, propaganda techniques

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Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Discuss other examples of film propaganda, as discussed at 8:36
• Incorporate the referenced films in your instruction, particularly Vertov's 1929 work The Man with the Movie Camera or Kozintsev's 1935 film Youth of Maxim 
• Include the film in a lesson on the Russian Revolution of 1917

Classroom Considerations

• Contains a major spoiler for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at 5:00; skip if learners are unfamiliar with the ending
• Fast-paced narration may leave viewers overwhelmed, so frequent pausing might be advantageous
• Part of a Crash Course playlist on film history

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Focuses on editing, which young filmmakers may not notice as quickly when they watch a movie
• Includes modern examples of intellectual montage, metric montage, and rhythmic montage
• Offers a unique view of the engineering side of filmmaking, including the works of Lev Kuleshov (creator of the Kuleshov Effect) and Dzigo Vertov
• Provides a quick summary of information at the end of the video, which is a helpful way to check for understanding

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2