Zvenigora

begins as an absurd work of nationalism, where polish people are imagined as evil wizards that dance about the tree tops and turn national treasures to dust. later, there are some dreamish war sequences and an old man plodding around looking for that treasure. some truly gorgeous images, but the dodgy editing, poor music and quasi-mythological narrative make this close to nonsensical. disappointing after [earth], and far removed from soviet cinema of the time. no rhythm or montage here.

Dovzhenko's first major film, and a lyrical revelation in the face of Soviet formality: a passionate, funny fantasy tableaux of 1,000 years of Ukrainian history, encompassing wild folk myths, poetic drama, propaganda and social satire.

Scenes of war (and then industry) against beautiful natural landscapes. Like its successor, Arsenal, Zvenigora favors symbols and imagery over coherent narrative, but lacks the wild sense of experimentalism that made Arsenal so engaging.

was on my phone the whole time gotta rewatch it.

Inventive and avant-garde but not really my thing.