Natasha's Dance (138 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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98
In the cinema the state’s concern for art to play a morally didactic role was crucial to
In the cinema the state’s concern for art to play a morally didactic role was crucial to
In the cinema the state’s concern for art to play a morally didactic role was crucial to
99
100
October,
typage
101
But there were just as many criticisms of the leadership of Sovkino, the Soviet film trust
But there were just as many criticisms of the leadership of Sovkino, the Soviet film trust
But there were just as many criticisms of the leadership of Sovkino, the Soviet film trust
102
In 1930 Sovkino was finally disbanded, together with the independent studios which had
In 1930 Sovkino was finally disbanded, together with the independent studios which had
In 1930 Sovkino was finally disbanded, together with the independent studios which had
direction of Soiuzkino (Ail-Union Soviet Film Trust). Its chief apparatchik, Boris Shum
direction of Soiuzkino (Ail-Union Soviet Film Trust). Its chief apparatchik, Boris Shum
direction of Soiuzkino (Ail-Union Soviet Film Trust). Its chief apparatchik, Boris Shum
Chapaev
* In 1938, in the final stages of the editing of Eisenstein’s Alexander Nevsky, Stalin aske
* In 1938, in the final stages of the editing of Eisenstein’s Alexander Nevsky, Stalin aske
* In 1938, in the final stages of the editing of Eisenstein’s Alexander Nevsky, Stalin aske
Alexander Nevsky,
Eisenstein, Cinema and History
+ Stalin could apparently recite long passages of the dialogue by heart. See R. Taylor a
+ Stalin could apparently recite long passages of the dialogue by heart. See R. Taylor a
+ Stalin could apparently recite long passages of the dialogue by heart. See R. Taylor a
The Film Factory: Russian and Soviet Cinema Documents, 1896-
down for production by Soiuzkino. He withdrew to a teaching post at the State Film Schoo
down for production by Soiuzkino. He withdrew to a teaching post at the State Film Schoo
down for production by Soiuzkino. He withdrew to a teaching post at the State Film Schoo
103
Under pressure to produce a film which conformed to the Socialist Realist mould, Eisenste
Under pressure to produce a film which conformed to the Socialist Realist mould, Eisenste
Under pressure to produce a film which conformed to the Socialist Realist mould, Eisenste
Sketches from a Hunter’s Album.
Pravda
* In fact Morozov was murdered by the NKVD, which then executed thirty-seven kulak village
* In fact Morozov was murdered by the NKVD, which then executed thirty-seven kulak village
* In fact Morozov was murdered by the NKVD, which then executed thirty-seven kulak village
Informer 001: The Myth of Pavlik Morozov
denounced the film for its ‘formalist’ and religious character.104 Eisen-stein was forced
denounced the film for its ‘formalist’ and religious character.104 Eisen-stein was forced
denounced the film for its ‘formalist’ and religious character.104 Eisen-stein was forced
104
105
The suppression of Bezhin Meadow was part of the continuing campaign against the artist
The suppression of Bezhin Meadow was part of the continuing campaign against the artist
The suppression of Bezhin Meadow was part of the continuing campaign against the artist
Bezhin Meadow
Ulysses
106
The Battleship Potemkin,
Pravda
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,
107
From the first moment, the listener is shocked by a deliberately dissonant, confused str
From the first moment, the listener is shocked by a deliberately dissonant, confused str
From the first moment, the listener is shocked by a deliberately dissonant, confused str
108
This was not just an attack on Shostakovich, although, to be sure, its effect on him was de
This was not just an attack on Shostakovich, although, to be sure, its effect on him was de
This was not just an attack on Shostakovich, although, to be sure, its effect on him was de
How the Steel Was Tempered
109
This renewed assault against the avant-garde involved a counterrevolution in cultur
This renewed assault against the avant-garde involved a counterrevolution in cultur
This renewed assault against the avant-garde involved a counterrevolution in cultur
* Dostoevsky was despised (though not read) by Lenin, who once famously dismissed his no
* Dostoevsky was despised (though not read) by Lenin, who once famously dismissed his no
* Dostoevsky was despised (though not read) by Lenin, who once famously dismissed his no
The Devils,
(continued)
(continued)
(continued)
issued in their millions as a new readership was introduced to them. Landscape painting,
issued in their millions as a new readership was introduced to them. Landscape painting,
issued in their millions as a new readership was introduced to them. Landscape painting,
Izvestiia),
110
In music, too, the regime put the clock back to the nineteenth century. Glinka, Tchaikovsky
In music, too, the regime put the clock back to the nineteenth century. Glinka, Tchaikovsky
In music, too, the regime put the clock back to the nineteenth century. Glinka, Tchaikovsky
kuchkists,
(continued) the 1930s - about 100,000 copies of all his works were sold between 1938 and 1941,
(continued) the 1930s - about 100,000 copies of all his works were sold between 1938 and 1941,
(continued) the 1930s - about 100,000 copies of all his works were sold between 1938 and 1941,
Dostoevski in Russian Literary Criticism, 1846-1956
Dostoevski’s Image inRussiaToday
Sobranie sochinenii v 3-kh tomakh, 1847-1906
of the Soviet regime he became a Russian chauvinist, an enemy of Western influence and
of the Soviet regime he became a Russian chauvinist, an enemy of Western influence and
of the Soviet regime he became a Russian chauvinist, an enemy of Western influence and
In 1937 Soviet Russia marked the centenary of Pushkin’s death. The whole country was invo
In 1937 Soviet Russia marked the centenary of Pushkin’s death. The whole country was invo
In 1937 Soviet Russia marked the centenary of Pushkin’s death. The whole country was invo
111
Pravda
112
113
Pravda,
114
’Poetry is respected only in this country’, Mandelstam would tell his friends in the 1930s. ‘
’Poetry is respected only in this country’, Mandelstam would tell his friends in the 1930s. ‘
’Poetry is respected only in this country’, Mandelstam would tell his friends in the 1930s. ‘
115
116
Pasternak (both of whom could be construed as anti-Soviet), yet without a moment’s hesita
Pasternak (both of whom could be construed as anti-Soviet), yet without a moment’s hesita
Pasternak (both of whom could be construed as anti-Soviet), yet without a moment’s hesita
117
118
Mandelstam was the first to be taken. In November 1933 he had written a poem about Stalin whi
Mandelstam was the first to be taken. In November 1933 he had written a poem about Stalin whi
Mandelstam was the first to be taken. In November 1933 he had written a poem about Stalin whi
119
We live, deaf to the land beneath us,
We live, deaf to the land beneath us,
We live, deaf to the land beneath us,
Ten steps away no one hears our speeches,
Ten steps away no one hears our speeches,
Ten steps away no one hears our speeches,
All we hear is the Kremlin mountaineer,
All we hear is the Kremlin mountaineer,
All we hear is the Kremlin mountaineer,
The murderer and peasant-slayer.
The murderer and peasant-slayer.
The murderer and peasant-slayer.
His fingers are fat as grubs
His fingers are fat as grubs
His fingers are fat as grubs
And the words, final as lead weights, fall from his lips,
And the words, final as lead weights, fall from his lips,
And the words, final as lead weights, fall from his lips,
His cockroach whiskers leer
His cockroach whiskers leer
His cockroach whiskers leer
And his boots gleam.
And his boots gleam.
And his boots gleam.
Around him a rabble of thin-necked leaders -
Around him a rabble of thin-necked leaders -
Around him a rabble of thin-necked leaders -
Fawning half-men for him to play with.
Fawning half-men for him to play with.
Fawning half-men for him to play with.
They whinny, purr or whine
They whinny, purr or whine
They whinny, purr or whine
As he prates and points a finger,
As he prates and points a finger,
As he prates and points a finger,
One by one forging his laws, to be flung
One by one forging his laws, to be flung
One by one forging his laws, to be flung
Like horseshoes at the head, the eye or the groin.
Like horseshoes at the head, the eye or the groin.
Like horseshoes at the head, the eye or the groin.
And every killing is a treat
And every killing is a treat
And every killing is a treat
For the broad-chested Ossete.120
For the broad-chested Ossete.120
For the broad-chested Ossete.120
120
Akhmatova was visiting the Mandelstams in Moscow in May 1934 when the secret police burst in
Akhmatova was visiting the Mandelstams in Moscow in May 1934 when the secret police burst in
Akhmatova was visiting the Mandelstams in Moscow in May 1934 when the secret police burst in
121
122
123
124
The Mandelstams were exiled to Voronezh, 400 kilometres south of Moscow, returning to t
The Mandelstams were exiled to Voronezh, 400 kilometres south of Moscow, returning to t
The Mandelstams were exiled to Voronezh, 400 kilometres south of Moscow, returning to t
Not like a European capital With the first prize for beauty -
Not like a European capital With the first prize for beauty -
Not like a European capital With the first prize for beauty -
But like stifling exile to the Yenisei,
But like stifling exile to the Yenisei,
But like stifling exile to the Yenisei,
Like a transfer to Chita,
Like a transfer to Chita,
Like a transfer to Chita,
To Ishim, to waterless Irghiz,
To Ishim, to waterless Irghiz,
To Ishim, to waterless Irghiz,
To renowned Atbasar,
To renowned Atbasar,
To renowned Atbasar,
To the outpost Svobodny,
To the outpost Svobodny,
To the outpost Svobodny,
To the corpse stench of rotting bunks -
To the corpse stench of rotting bunks -
To the corpse stench of rotting bunks -
So this city seemed to me
So this city seemed to me
So this city seemed to me
On that midnight, pale blue -
On that midnight, pale blue -
On that midnight, pale blue -
This city, celebrated by the first poet,
This city, celebrated by the first poet,
This city, celebrated by the first poet,
By us sinners and by you.125
By us sinners and by you.125
By us sinners and by you.125
125
Six months later Mandelstam was re-arrested and sentenced to five years’ penal labour in
Six months later Mandelstam was re-arrested and sentenced to five years’ penal labour in
Six months later Mandelstam was re-arrested and sentenced to five years’ penal labour in
In her memoir about Mandelstam, Akhmatova recalls the final time she saw her friend, st
In her memoir about Mandelstam, Akhmatova recalls the final time she saw her friend, st
In her memoir about Mandelstam, Akhmatova recalls the final time she saw her friend, st
126
Mandelstam’s seditious poem also played a role in the arrest of Lev Gumilev, Akhmatova
Mandelstam’s seditious poem also played a role in the arrest of Lev Gumilev, Akhmatova
Mandelstam’s seditious poem also played a role in the arrest of Lev Gumilev, Akhmatova
was not the first time, nor the last, that Lev would be arrested. He had never been involved
was not the first time, nor the last, that Lev would be arrested. He had never been involved
was not the first time, nor the last, that Lev would be arrested. He had never been involved
Akhmatova herself was being closely watched by the NKVD during 1935. Its agents followed her
Akhmatova herself was being closely watched by the NKVD during 1935. Its agents followed her
Akhmatova herself was being closely watched by the NKVD during 1935. Its agents followed her

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