Eisenstein’s 1925 classic at Sheffield Film Festival
The film
The 1925 Sergei Eisenstein classic was banned in the UK due to the fear that it might incite worker uprisings.
Strike is a bold and experimental piece of Soviet propaganda depicting a 1903 strike by workers at a pre-revolutionary factory. Triggered by their harsh working environment, which results in the death of a worker, a strike is called at a Moscow Factory. The owners and authorities react with brutality and attempt to infiltrate the movement.
Arranged in six parts, Strike marked the directorial debut of Sergei Eisenstein, who would go on to become one of cinema's most influential filmmakers. Like his later films such as Battleship Potemkin and October, Strike demonstrates Eisenstein's inventive approach to editing and montage.
The music
Pianist and Northern Silents artistic director Jonny Best will perform live, improvised piano accompaniment.
Music: Jonny Best (piano)
Director Sergei Eisenstein
Year 1925
Duration 1h 40m
Cast Grigoriy Aleksandrov