Nevsky/Stalin

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Alexander Nevsky is not a glorification of Stalin.  It's a patriotic movie about fighting the Germans at a time when Russia was fighting the Germans, so it certainly rates as propaganda.  I think it's a fantastic movie that everyone should see.  The battle scene is amazing, both visually and on an emotional level.  I was lucky enough to see it with a live orchestra performing the Prokofiev score, as is described in the LA review.  A great way to see it.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Keith <keithsz at mac.com>

>
>That is subject to interpretation. Many disagree with you.
>
>In a very thinly veiled metaphorical reference to Stalin, Prince  
>Aleksander Nevsky (Nikolai Cherkasov) in 1242 has recently defeated  
>invading Swedes and turned down an offer from the Mongols to serve as  
>a commander to their troops, preferring to remain in Russia: “Better  
>to die in your own land than to leave it.” Even though the Russians  
>are being squeezed on two fronts, he realizes that the Germans pose  
>the bigger threat.
>   http://www.toxicuniverse.com/review.php?rid=10001697
>
>Eisenstein's direction and Prokofiev's score make ALEXANDER NEVSKY  
>the "Rolls Royce" among propaganda films. Nevsky is, of course  
>Stalin's alter ego, and the Russians are tall, good-looking, heroic,  
>and they have a perfect hairdo. The germans are bearded savages and  
>look like members of the Ku-Klux-Klan. The actor who plays Vasili  
>gives a one-man-four-characters performance: first wavering, then  
>heroic, youthful lover and comic relief. Cherkasov's main duty is to  
>look heroic. At the end, Nevsky-Stalin displays his generosity: He  
>pardons the "little soldiers" and barters the knights for soap. Only  
>a bearded killer and a traitorous cleric are turned over to the mob.  
>He does not forget a final warning: Who comes with the sword will die  
>by the sword...He kept his promise.
>   http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0029850/usercomments?start=20
>
>"Nevsky," as every Russian knew in 1938, when the film was made by  
>two of their country's greatest living artists, glorified Stalin.  
>Prokofiev and Eisenstein were also two frightened artists. But they  
>had a genuine moral cause. Real, live Germans were soon to invade  
>Russia.
>   http://tinyurl.com/3yp9df
>
>On Jun 4, 2007, at 3:59 PM, Ya Sam wrote:
>
>There is nothing which glorifies Stalin in 'Alexander Nevsky'.