Revolution Is War. Review on The Battleship Potemkin Movie

A few films have the potential to change the way we think, and Director Sergei M. Eisenstein proves it in one of the most celebrated film in history. ‘The Battleship Potemkin’ is based on a true story that took place in Russia during the war against Japan in 1905 that revolted the nation. The story unveils as the drained and depleted warriors return to Russia after suffering humiliating defeats in naval engagements with the Japanese. Anger fumes on board when the sailors are served rotten meat with worms and boycott the meals demanding for better rations.

The captain orders execution to those men who refused to eat. This triggers the mutiny and the sailors kill the officials on board, but lose their leader in action. Once the ship reaches the city of Odessa, thousands of civilians march to pay respect to the dead sailor and soon, the anguished citizens unite resulting in a revolt. The people support the sailors by offering them food as they sail back to the sea, but eventually the action ignites anger amongst the Czarist troops. What follows is one of the most acclaimed sequences in film history, ‘the Odessa massacre’ in which hundreds of innocent citizens are brutally killed by the Czarist troops. Following the massacre, the hunt for ‘Potemkin’ is engaged and a number of ships are employed to destroy it…

Voted as the best picture of all time in 1958, until ‘Citizen Kane’ took its place on the same year after a re-release in theatre for the next 40 years. Editing played a key role in this film, and created a new definition amongst the prevailing editing methods, it gave a rhythmic succession for a powerful meaning. The script for the film was just one page, and the rest was improvised while shooting, proving that imagination is a larger canvas than paper.

The film can be compared to Jazz music, as there are no preparations or sheet music but merely based on improvisations, and out of that flows immaculate piece of music. Since the film had so much power it was banned in many countries, including its own nation Soviet Union. Governments actually believed it could induce audiences into riot. If you are fascinated about the history of cinema, the power of media, or simply baffled by the artistry of moving pictures, then this film is a must-see.