Let us look back at the history of Russian propaganda films. The standard-bearer must be Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 “Alexander Nevsky,” a Stalinist-era epic centered on the hero Prince Alexander, who drove out the Romans in the 13th century. The barely-veiled subtext of that film, however, was a depiction of Russo-German relations as the war loomed ahead, with a call to arms for citizens and a clear warning to would-be attackers. I’ve no idea how effective it was at reaching its propagandistic goals, but the film itself is gorgeous and filled with inventive effects, and Eisenstein accomplished at least the feat of cinematic excellence.
‘Maximum Impact’ Film Review: Pro-Russian Action-Comedy Serves Up Misogyny Alongside Propaganda
Orange County’s own Alexander Nevsky forges U.S.-Russia bonds while the film constantly humiliates Kelly Hu’s Secret Service officer
