Day 85: Alexander Nevsky (1938)

In the mid-1930′s, Russian filmmaker and famous film theorist Sergei Eisenstein’s career was at the point of utter failure. His last picture, “Bezhin Meadow” had been a catastrophe, both in production and upon its release and his Russian and American contacts were growing tired of his directing approach. But, luckily for Sergei, someone decided to give him one last chance- Joseph Stalin. Blaming the misfire on the film’s executive producer, Stalin gave Eisenstein the go ahead for another try, which led to one of his greatest films, “Alexander Nevsky” – a film who’s political message would later force Stalin to bain it shortly after its release.

In this epic film, Eisenstein tells the historical tale of Alexander Nevsky (Nikolai Cherkasov), Prince of Novgorod, and his battle against the invading Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire. At the start of the war, the Knights invade and take the city of Pskov, massacring its citizens, including, chillingly enough, its children. Furious, Nevsky rallies the people of Novgorod against the Knights, even when the the merchants of the country resist in hopes to save their trade.

As the war goes on, Vasili Buslai and Gavrilo Oleksich, two warriors and friends, engage in a contest during battle to decide which is the best warrior and should win the hand of Olga, a beautiful girl both are courting. Soon, their contest comes to a fever pitch when their army faces their greatest battle on the icy surface of the frozen Lake Chudskoe- now known as the legendary “Battle of the Ice.”

With “Alexander Nevsky,” Eisenstein created a film with heavy political subtext. With Nevsky’s war against the raiding Teutonic Knights, Eisenstein created an allegory to the Soviet Union’s own odds with Germany’s Nazi party. In fact, he took the comparison so literally, he even had the Knight’s infantrymen helmets designed to look like the kettle helmets of the Third Reich and the their bishops literally don swastikas on their outfits!

Of course, with the rapidly changing political climate of the late 30′s, once “Alexander Nevsky” was released it gained much praise, but was quickly taken down after Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, creating a level of peace between Germany and the Soviet Union. This sent Eisenstein back to teaching- his film career almost assuredly ruined. But then came 1941. When the Nazi’s invaded the Soviet Union, Eisenstein’s film became more relevant than ever. Considered a morale boosting work and great for propaganda, the decision was reversed and “Alexander Nevsky” was put on every Soviet Union and western screen possible.

Considered Sergei Eisenstein’s most popular sound film, “Alexander Nevsky” is not only a rather impressive epic for its time, but also a film that helped change history by telling a little bit of it. Not a bad feat for a film that was Eisenstein’s “last chance.”

To learn more about, “Alexander Nevsky,” check out Criterion’s page here.

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