October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
dir. Sergei Eisenstein · 1928
Plot
In documentary style, events in Petrograd are re-enacted from the end of the monarchy in February of 1917 to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April. In July, counter-revolutionaries put down a spontaneous revolt, and Lenin's arrest is ordered. By late October, the Bolsheviks are ready to strike: ten days will shake the world. While the Mensheviks vacillate, an advance guard infiltrates the palace. Anatov-Oveyenko leads the attack and signs the proclamation dissolving the provisional government.
Why watch
"October" is a groundbreaking cinematic experience that captures the fervor of revolution through Eisenstein's innovative montage and visual storytelling. This film invites viewers to reflect on the power of collective action and the transformative potential of art in shaping history.