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Alexander Nevsky (1938)
Jun. 13th, 2008 08:14 amThanks to the kindness of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kate_schaefer and her lovely spouse, a small group of us were able to see Sergei Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky last night at Benaroya Hall with Prokofiev's score performed live by the Seattle Symphony and Chorale. This is probably the best way to see the movie. It is a patriotic war epic -- not one of my favorite genres -- and the pomp and circumstance of this production, in the beautiful setting of the Benaroya, was very fitting. The symphony sounded utterly superb, and the powerful music really helped to sell the strained grandiosity of the film.
I had seen it once before at the Neptune back in the '80s, and I didn't care for it much. It was stiff as as a suit of armor, as slow and static as ice. However, I was able to appreciate it better as a visual work this time. It is beautifully composed and shot, with lots of low-angle camera shots looking up at the towering heroic figures and the enormous cloud-shot sky. It's more a series of tableaux -- like a medieval tapestry -- than a flowing narrative. It does build up some dramatic tension in the famous final battle on the lake of ice, particularly as the mass of Germans comes rushing at Our Heroes from the distance.
Ah right, this is the story of the invasion of Russia by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, and their defeat by Prince Alexander Nevsky and the hardy peasants of Mother Russia. It was shot during Stalin's reign, and it is full of Soviet propaganda about cowardly rich people and clergy and of noble peasants. Prokofiev's music was badly recorded at the time, which is why these live performances have been developed in the past decade.
There are many funny looking helmets, haircuts, and tunics, frequently reminiscent of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There are cool looking onion domes, dragon boats, and pennants. There is humor both intentional and not. Did I mention that it's all very, very grandiose? If you're looking for gravitas, here it is, lord have mercy. Prokofiev's music is dark, soaring, mournful, martial, and gorgeous. This is the way to see this movie, if you get the chance. I was enthralled, even when I snickered. Those who come with a sword to us will die from that sword! Amen.
kate_schaefer and her lovely spouse, a small group of us were able to see Sergei Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky last night at Benaroya Hall with Prokofiev's score performed live by the Seattle Symphony and Chorale. This is probably the best way to see the movie. It is a patriotic war epic -- not one of my favorite genres -- and the pomp and circumstance of this production, in the beautiful setting of the Benaroya, was very fitting. The symphony sounded utterly superb, and the powerful music really helped to sell the strained grandiosity of the film.I had seen it once before at the Neptune back in the '80s, and I didn't care for it much. It was stiff as as a suit of armor, as slow and static as ice. However, I was able to appreciate it better as a visual work this time. It is beautifully composed and shot, with lots of low-angle camera shots looking up at the towering heroic figures and the enormous cloud-shot sky. It's more a series of tableaux -- like a medieval tapestry -- than a flowing narrative. It does build up some dramatic tension in the famous final battle on the lake of ice, particularly as the mass of Germans comes rushing at Our Heroes from the distance.
Ah right, this is the story of the invasion of Russia by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, and their defeat by Prince Alexander Nevsky and the hardy peasants of Mother Russia. It was shot during Stalin's reign, and it is full of Soviet propaganda about cowardly rich people and clergy and of noble peasants. Prokofiev's music was badly recorded at the time, which is why these live performances have been developed in the past decade.
There are many funny looking helmets, haircuts, and tunics, frequently reminiscent of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There are cool looking onion domes, dragon boats, and pennants. There is humor both intentional and not. Did I mention that it's all very, very grandiose? If you're looking for gravitas, here it is, lord have mercy. Prokofiev's music is dark, soaring, mournful, martial, and gorgeous. This is the way to see this movie, if you get the chance. I was enthralled, even when I snickered. Those who come with a sword to us will die from that sword! Amen.
