One of the outstanding characteristics of the film work of Herr Yakov Protazanov, a very important and prolific Russian film director, is the versatility and originality of his movies, which cover various film genres from hagiographic biographies, to sci-fi to costume films. All were very skilfully handed by Herr Protazanov.
"Satana Likuyushchiy" ( Satan Triumphant ) is a good example of what this German aristocrat is talking about although in this case its bizarre and strange atmosphere made this oeuvre especially interesting and original.
In a small town live two brothers, one a minister and the other one a hunchback painter of the chapel who lives with his wife. One dreadful and stormy night, a stranger knocks at the door asking for shelter. The stranger talks about all the good things of the earthly life the minister is missing because of his puritanical faith. The minister comes to accept the stranger's viewpoint but it is others who will pay the consequences because the minister will discover the human pleasures thanks to, ehem, his sister- in -law
The tormented minister and his cuckolded brother will die in a strange accident in the chapel and later an infant will be born from the minister's adulterous relationship.
The film is divided in two parts, the first one could be considered as the "Genesis" ( talking in church terms
) ,the origins of all the miseries that will befall the principal characters of the film and the second part could be thought of as the "Revelation" or the chance for atonement for their sins because of the earlier history...
Especially remarkable for this German count is the tormented minister's struggle within his soul which makes for a real "tour de force" as he deals with Satan's temptations. Earthly pleasures prove irresistible even to such a pious man. His broken faith and his particular fall to primal instincts makes for an original, bold and even irreverent aspect of the film, having in mind that previously the minister is shown as a righteous, strict and disciplined man. Nor can one forget the formerly faithful sister-in-law, who, as a German proverb says knows pretty well that good girls go to heaven, but the bad ones go everywhere
During the first part of the film, there is implicit in the oeuvre a powerful sexual atmosphere, scenes full of desire which cannot be told, very remarkable considering that the film was made in 1917. If we have in mind that the cause of all the minister's problems; that is to say, the strange person who arrives unexpectedly at his home one stormy night, is Satan himself
well, the fight between good and evil, heaven and hell, chastity and sexual activity, is inevitable, enriching the film with various meanings.
In the second part of the film are depicted the consequences of such mad love; the adulterous relationship gives birth to a bastard, a son devoted to his mother in spite of the circumstances of his birth; a good boy who will be tempted again for Herr Satan now lives in a bourgeois society, Again contradictory feelings will arise that will put at stake the minister's son and his mother's remorse until the circle finally ends.
Herr Ivan Moskoujine ( who worked in many early Herr Protazanov silent films ), is splendid in his double role, as the minister and his son, showing the contradictions and strange conduct of both different characters, independent performances that confirm the superb qualities of such a great Russian actor.
Unfortunately in "Satana Likuyushchiy" both final endings are lost ( this is particularly unfortunate for the second part) not to mention that there are mutilated versions of the film circulating that include only one part of the oeuvre, If you want to enjoy Herr Protazanov's film abilities, it will be necessary to get the almost complete version of the film in which are depicted superbly those strong human convictions intertwined with also human desires, the fascination with the sometimes blurred and thin line between good or evil.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count has some trifling satanic affairs to resolve.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
