The 1917 Bolshevik Revolution inspired a burst of creativity in Russian art that was soon suppressed by the doctrine of socialist realism dictated by Joseph Stalin. The meteoric rise and sudden fall of this artistic experimentation that was unleashed by the dream of remaking the world is the subject of Margy Kinmonth’s documentary, which also celebrates works that have survived and reveals the fate of their creators through interviews, especially with descendants. Kinmonth establishes the historical context through archival materials, beginning with Viktor Bulla’s photograph of Provisional Government troops firing on demonstrators in July before turning to Lenin’s October coup and the new regime’s employment of art as a means of communicating with a largely illiterate population. Innovative artwork, often abstract in nature, was initially encouraged, represented by the geometric paintings of Wassily Kandinsky and the enigmatic "Black Square" canvases of Suprematist Kazimir Malevich. But support for such works collapsed with Stalin, who demanded depictions of happy Soviet workers. Although some artists, including Marc Chagall, emigrated while they still could, others were ostracized, sent to the gulag, or executed, with many of their works destroyed (although some were secreted away and are now being unearthed). Kinmonth focuses on painting, and to a lesser extent photography, architecture, and cinema, and while her narration is rather flat and her use of dramatic re-creations sometimes falters, overall this is a fine introduction to an important episode in the development of modern art. Extras include additional footage. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Revolution: New Art for a New World
(2018) 85 min. DVD: $24.95. Film Movement (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 6
Revolution: New Art for a New World
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