Last week my roommate and I had the pleasure of watching the film Alexander Nevsky. With a plot about Russian peasants fighting off Teutonic knights, music by Prokofiev, and one of the longest battle scenes ever filmed, what could make it better?
The answer is, of course, that the entire movie is a brilliant piece of Soviet propaganda. Produced and released in 1938, the movie constantly emphasizes the threat of German invasion from the east and the need for the Russian people to rise up behind a strong leader and defend their homeland. I wonder what that could be about? What with the scenes of Russian solidarity, German knights being hit over the head and drowning in the frigid lakes, and the eventual Russian triumph, the Russians might as well have put the film in an envelope and mailed it to the Third Reich. Perhaps they did.
All in all, it’s a classic film. Wonderful old costumes, brilliant fight scenes, and amazing music. Check your local library for Alexander Nevsky and enjoy the propaganda! (And if you have trouble locating a copy, let me know and I can help you out.)
Tags: Alexander Nevsky, movie, propaganda, russia, soviet, teutonic knights
