Arsenal (1929)

A soldier returns to Kiyv after surviving a train crash and encounters clashes between nationalists and collectivists.

Director:

Aleksandr Dovzhenko

Writer:

Aleksandr Dovzhenko

Stars:

Semyon Svashenko, Georgi Khorkov, Amvrosi Buchma

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
Semyon Svashenko	...	Timosh, the Ukrainian (as S. Svashenko)
Georgi Khorkov	...	A Red Army Soldier (as G. Khorkov)
Amvrosi Buchma	...	Laughing-Gassed German Soldier (as A. Buchma)
Dmitri Erdman	...	A German Officer (as D. Erdman)
Sergey Petrov	...	A German Soldier (as S. Petrov)
M. Mikhajlovsky	...	A Nationalist (as Mikhajlovsky)
Aleksandr Evdakov	...	Tsar Nikolas II (as A. Evdakov)

Storyline

Set in the bleak aftermath and devastation of the World War I, a recently demobbed soldier, Timosh, returns to his hometown Kiev, after having survived a train wreck. His arrival coincides with a national celebration of Ukrainian freedom, but the festivities are not to last as a disenchanted.

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Plot Keywords:

silent film | soviet union | 1910s | communist revolution | revolution | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene early in the film, a soldier lies dead, covered with sand, but the sand can be seen to rise and fall with the actor's breathing.

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Connections

Referenced in La Chinoise (1967)

User Reviews

Arsenal review!!

Another montage crazy film by the Russians here. Instead of Eisenstein laying it on thick, we have Alexander Dovzshenko getting into the act with 'Arsenal'. A film about, yes, the oppression of the people against the state! Instead of the Russians, this time we the Ukrainians becoming oppressed. Mainly set in a arsenal factory (!!) the people fight the threat of Government interference! Set to a frenetic score, Arsenal sure must have kept the editors busy with many crazy jump cuts going at a frenetic pace. What does it all mean? Not 100% sure, as some of the obvious symbolism just flew right by me. It's an OK movie if you're into that sort of stuff. (You know who you are).

Details

Official Sites:

VUFKU VUFKU (Ukrainian)

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

None Russian

Release Date:

9 November 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Арсенал

Filming Locations:

Odessa Film Studio, Odessa, Ukraine

Company Credits

Production Co:

Odeska Kinofabryka, Vseukrainske Foto Kino Upravlinnia (VUFKU)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 90 min (Copy with French subtitles at Brussels Musée du Cinéma)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1