I found this silent Soviet Union film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, from directors Sergei M. Eisenstein (Strike, Battleship Potemkin; Ivan the Terrible, Parts I and II) and Grigori Aleksandrov, I was hoping it would be a worthy entry. Basically the events of 1917, in Petrograd, Russia are re-enacted in this documentary style film, from the end of the monarchy in February to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April, counter-revolutionaries spontaneously revolt and the order of Lenin's arrest occurs in July, by late October the Bolsheviks prepare to strike, these are the ten days that will shake the world. While the Mensheviks waver their opinions, the palace is infiltrated by an advance guard, it is the lead of Anatov-Oveyenko to attack and sign the proclamation that dissolves the provisional government. Starring Vasili Nikandrov as Lenin, Nikolay Popov as Kerenskiy as Boris Livanov as Minister Terestsenko. This film served as a tenth anniversary celebration of the overthrown provisional government and impersonal tribute, it is satirical and overtly political, I found it a bit hard to follow on occasion, and it does not have the same grip as Battleship Potemkin, but with a montage of realistic and dramatic material it has bits that gained my attention, a watchable silent historical epic. Good!
