Stalinist Movie

In this film, a fictitious exchange between Maxim Gorky and Lenin is taking place. Gorky is disturbed by the severity with which the state is going after "enemies of the people." Lenin refutes this (thus supporting and lending credibility to Stalin's position) and convinces Gorky that the revolutionary fight sometimes requires a stiff hand. Gorky personifies the collective uneasiness to Stalin's policies while Lenin returns from the grave to legitimize Stalin's prerogative. Regardless of what Lenin's true feelings would have been towards Stalin's leadership, a new "reality" is constructed. This is the essence of Socialist Realism.

In the final frame shown, a factory worker enters to support Lenin's position. According to the visitor, the working class has been oppressed for so long, and they are now being attacked from all sides (Socialism in one nation). It is only reasonable that the people (read: party and state) ought to act strictly towards saboteurs and other "enemies of the people." The factory worker empowers Lenin (and therefore Stalin), and creates the new "reality" of Stalin carrying out "the people's will."

BACK to Stalin's Image in Film.

Jake Fey

x9e0@music.stlawu.edu