User reviews

With the noble intention of praising the 120 anniversary of the Romanian asylum granted to the rebel sailors of the Battleship Potemkin right after the tragedy took place in USSR, in 1905, events depicted in the classic film by Sergei Eisenstein, an architect discusses his plans to erect a monument celebrating the sailors and their cause against the czar. In between his ideas about the project - usually intertwined with scenes from "Battleship Potemkin", there's his dialogues with his assistant (I think) about the notions of trying to avoid to make a statement praising Communism (he's praising the revolt against the czar which was the same battle fought by the revolutionary who took over the power in 1917, yet he's avoiding to make his project as if being alligned with the Communist ideals since Romania suffered on the hands of a Communist dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu). It's kinda tricky the inner fight he has with himself because he doesn't want his countrymen to get the wrong idea.

It was interesting to see a conversation about a classic film with some historical facts that aren't presented in the movie, which is the aftermath of the whole incident on Potemkin (the artist complains that since it's a pro-Communist film the Romanian help couldn't be included. I don't see it that way, even though Soviets were obviously presenting something to be proud of, with the sailors fighting the oppressive system of czar Nicholas II), and there are countless clips from Eisenstein movie with the artist presenting what facts and frames he wanted to include in his tribute - to be released in 2025 (if ever, celebrating 120 years of the Odessa rebellion).

It's a fascinating short project that reveals how historical facts alligned with the cinema ideas can form and transform our reality, showing that such combination can transcend a lot more than just seeing the film experience based on a real fact, affecting our present and providing something for the future. If the artist succeed, he'll be showing to new generations how important history and film history are important in our society, and to Romanians it's a clear case of heroism where they helped the oppressed Soviet military when needed, since if they return to their country they'd be executed for treason. They were just fighting for better work and life conditions, and Eisenstein proves it with great unforgettable effect. 6/10.