The Cinema of Eisenstein - Hardcover

Bordwell, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0674131371 ISBN 13: 9780674131378

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 1993

Synopsis

Director of classics, theorist of montage, master of the mass epic, purveyor of Soviet realism in the midst of perilous political reality: Sergei Eisenstein is possibly the key figure in film history. In "The Cinema of Eisenstein" David Bordwell takes the full measure of this filmmaker's accomplishments. Bordwell gives a complete account of Eisenstein's distinctive contributions to the art, theory and history of cinema. He takes the reader from the first silent film, "Strike", made in the upheaval of postrevolutionary Russia, through "Potemkin" and "Ten Days That Shook the World" and on to "Alexander Nevsky" which won the Order of Lenin, to the last banned part of the diptych "Ivan the Terrible". Discussing each in detail, Bordwell points out the traces of various artistic currents of the times, from Marxist Modernism to Socialist Realism to Symbolist poetics, as well as the changing influence of Soviet politics. He guides the reader through Eisenstein's theoretical writings, including major texts that have only recently appeared in English. With close attention to the texture of the filmmaker's thought and work, Bordwell uncovers new depths of artistry and implications for the the

About this title

Review:

Sergei Eisenstein is arguably the most important single figure in the history of movies. He was certainly the most versatile. The director of the masterpieces Battleship Potemkin and Alexander Nevsky, Eisenstein also wrote ground-breaking essays on film art and taught classes on motion picture production. In this thoughtful, clear, and beautifully organized book, David Bordwell describes Eisenstein's development as a filmmaker, essayist, and teacher, demonstrating how each of his occupations comments upon and elucidates the other. Playing the role of Eisenstein's biographer, historian, interpreter, and critic, Bordwell has composed one of the clearest and most complete views available of this difficult but exciting genius.

From the Back Cover:

Eisenstein led a busy, dramatic life. His achievements and adventures merit far more detailed investigation than can be undertaken here. What is useful for the purposes of this book is an overall orientation to his career, a framework within which we can situate his films and theoretical writings.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0674131371
• ISBN 13: 9780674131378
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336