Alexander Nevsky (film)
- Nikolai Cherkasov Alexander Nevsky
- Nikolai Okhlopkov: Vasily Buslai
- Andrej Abrikossow: Gavrilo Oleksich
- Dimitri Orlov: Ignat
- Vasily Novikov: Pavsha
- Varvara Massalitinowa: Buslais mother
Alexander Nevsky is a Soviet film directed by Sergei Mikhailovich History Eisenstein from 1938, stands in the center of the Russian national hero Alexander Nevsky Yaroslavich.
Action
Russia in 1242: Parts of the country are occupied by Mongols, and from the west, Novgorod approaches another threat. A Force of the Teutonic Order and the united him with Sword Brothers has already captured the strategically important city of Pskov, in which the invaders to rule with extreme brutality. Now is the hour for the Novgorod prince Alexander Nevsky Yaroslavich. First, he is able to strengthen the fighting spirit and the feeling of togetherness of his countrymen and to spread confidence in victory. Of key importance has, finally, the Battle on the Ice. Under the leadership Newski the troops of the knights are lured to the frozen lake and then defeated there. Nevsky is enthusiastically celebrated the end of the film.
Background and significance
Like other works of the Soviet film industry in the 30s and 40s can also be seen Alexander Nevsky in the context of the political situation of the Soviet Union. This is especially true for the relationship with the Third Reich. Intention was to stir up with this film a dislike of Germany: Accordingly failed during costume characterization of the opponent's knights of the Order, who will stop at no atrocity. Implied swastikas on the miter of the bishop and of German steel helmets helmets reminiscent of the foot soldiers contribute to the anti-German attitude. As a crest a pot helmet, among other things, the Hitler salute outstretched hand is used, the symbolic crashes into a fight scene with the slain German Teutonic Knights to the ground.
What great propagandistic importance Alexander Nevsky has been intended for the part of the Soviet governance, is already demonstrated by the fact that Sergei Eisenstein, who with Battleship Potemkin previously (1925 ) had risen to an internationally highly respected film artists, at the request of the dictator Josef Stalin with the director of this film was commissioned. Eisenstein used this film then why burnish be easily damaged political image, which had led to the provision of Dmitri Vasilyev as co- director. As well as this is managed is the one Stalin's statement, Eisenstein had proved by his work as " basically good Bolshevik", on the other, the Order of Lenin, which was awarded to him in recognition of his work on Alexander Nevsky by the Supreme Soviet is.
Nine months after the premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre, which took place on 23 November 1938 Alexander Nevsky could initially not be shown in cinemas of the Soviet Union. The main reason: After the Hitler -Stalin Pact, August 23, 1939, this film did not fit into the converted foreign policy concept of the Soviet Union against the German Reich. After the attack German troops on the Soviet Union in June 1941, could be of this film policy no more talk: At the behest of Stalin, the film was from this point to show not only in every Soviet cinema: to contribute to the motivation of the fighting against the German Wehrmacht troops of the Red Army, he was also often shown in front screenings.
Alexander Nevsky is a milestone in Sergei Eisenstein's work dar. He had left the Soviet Union in 1929 and dabbled in Hollywood on various projects, none of which was realized. As the studio system not with Eisenstein's operation (and vice versa) get along, he left the United States resigned and undertook for a film project in Mexico. But his film Que Viva Mexico at first remained unfinished and was published in a mutilated version later. Eisenstein never recovered from the debacle. He returned in 1933 to the Soviet Union, but started only after two year break to work on a new movie. The work on this film, The Beshin meadow were, but after creative differences with Boris Schumjazki, the Director General of the Central Film, canceled. The order to shoot Alexander Nevsky, Eisenstein's career saved. The film was his first prolonged sound film and the first completed under the control of Eisenstein film since 1930.
Historical significance of Alexander Nevsky film has moreover because of the composed by Sergei Prokofiev score. This is also because the artistic collaboration between Eisenstein and Prokofiev did not limit itself to let the composer deliver music to already edited movie. Rather, the images are partially - for example, reminiscent of a ballet scene of the decisive battle on the ice - cut to the music. A revolutionary for its time course of action. On the basis of his film music Prokofiev's cantata Alexander Nevsky op later was 78
Over the years, the quality of reproduction of the original material had so much taken that on this basis, a reliable reconstruction of the film music of Prokofiev was more possible. This only changed after the original score was resurfaced in 2003. The German conductor Frank Strobel then succeeded in the reconstruction, which was then to hear the Berlin Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt and the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre.