EARTH
CLASSIC CINEMA SECTION

EARTH

In the peaceful countryside, Vassily opposes the rich kulaks over the coming of collective farming. Dovzhenko’s “film poem” style brings to life the collective experience of life for the Ukrainian proles, examining natural cycles through his epic montage. He explores life, death, violence, sex, and other issues as they relate to the collective farms. An idealistic vision of the possibilities of Communism made just before Stalinism set in and the Kulack class was liquidated, “Earth” was viewed negatively by many Soviets because of its exploration of death and other dark issues that come with revolution.

Classics O’Clock V, Friday April 4, 19:30 CET

ENGLISH TITLE:

EARTH

ORIGINAL TITLE:

ZEMLYA

DIRECTOR:

Oleksandr Dovzhenko

COUNTRY:

Ukraine

GENRE:

Drama

YEAR:

1930

LENGTH:

75’

CAST:

Stepan Shkurat, Semyon Svashenko, Yuliya Solntseva, Yelena Maksimova, Nikolai Nademsky, Ivan Franko, Pyotr Masokha, Vladimir Mikhaylov, Pavel Petrik

A QUOTE FOR THE FILM:

"As my Basil was killed for a new life, so I'm asking you to bury him in a new way...There is no god."

SELECTIVE LIST OF FESTIVALS AND AWARDS:

USA National Board of Review 1930 Winner NBR Award, Venice Film Festival 1932 Nominee Audience Referendum

DIRECTOR’S BIO:

Aleksandr Dovzhenko was born on September 10, 1894 in Vyunishche, Sosnitsa Ueyzd, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire [now Sosnitsa, Sosnitsa Raion, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine] in a farmer family. Sudied painting before turning his attention to cinema in 1926. Worked in the Soviet embassies in Warsaw and Berlin following the Russian Revolution. Taught at the legendary Russian film school VGIK; his most famous student was the genius Sergei Parajanov. He was a writer and director, known for Earth (1930), Shors (1939) and Life in Bloom (1949). He died on November 25, 1956 in Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]

Produced by:

Co-financed by:

© 2020 Creatrix Fama

The project does not necessarily represent the position of The Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results are used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.

"Solidarity on Screen - Polish Presidency Film Review" is organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the international cultural program of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025.