Maxim's Youth
Maxim's Youth
Pt. 1 of the Maxim's Youth trilogy. "Maxim's Youth": Directed by G. Kozintsev and L. Trautberg. Music by Dmitiri Shostakovich. Originally produced in 1934, revised in 1965 by Mosfilm. "The first in a trilogy of film classics on the life of Maxim, a young man growing to adulthood during a time of historic upheaval. This film takes us from New Year's 1910 through Maxim's initial involvement with the Russian Social Democratic Party. We see a young and exuberant Maxim receiving life's education at the factory where he works and later at his university prison. The role of Maxim is marvelously and honestly acted by Boris Chirkov, who brings his character's warmth and caring to us, the viewers. We become fully involved in the gradual growth of Maxim's social awareness, and his changing surroundings. A film not to be missed for its historical content and its portrayal of a young man living through the historical process leading to revolution." Socialist realism. 01:49:41:- EST shot of a marketplace packed with quiet people; one man rises and speaks to them. MS of three drunken men stepping out of a bar, singing and playing accordians at the back of the crowd. MS of a Tsarist officer blowing a whistle, followed by MS of Imperial soldiers riding into the fray on horseback, scattering the crowd. Low angle MS of people running at camera, Maxim (Gorky?) stopping to look around. MS of him climbing a telephone pole, tossing political leaflets. Low angle MS's of the soldiers fighting the protesters. MS of a Tsar soldier striking a protester, the protester putting the holy hell smackdown on the old fool... only to get subdued by several state soldiers. 01:53:27:- CU of Gorky being fingerprinted by the police. MS of Gorky getting his mug shot taken, then his measurements and characteristics. MS of Maxim trying to have a conversation with himself in his cell. MS of Maxim banging on cell door. Nice, dark tight LS of a single guard standing outside a prison wall. MS of a dozen prisoners sleeping on cots in a small cell. High angle tight LS of Tsarist soldiers marching a prisoner through a wet cobblestone courtyard, at night (nice shot). MS of the protesting prisoner being shoved into a cell. MS of a woman falling dramatically to her cell bed. MS of a prisoner yelling angrily, smashing a chair on the ground. MS's of the protesting prisoners being subdued by the state police. MS's of an officer striking Maxim several times, Maxim eventually fighting back. 02:08:04:- MS's of Maxim being released from prison. MS of a gentle couple walking arm in arm along a boardwalk. MS of Maxim pinching himself. MS of Maxim on a fairly tropical (read pleasant) locale, lying on the beach singing and playing guitar. MS of a barefoot old man fishing by a stream. MS of the old man pulling out a gun on three undercover Tzar soldiers, only to get wrestled to the ground. Wide LS of Tzar soldiers walking through the woods to bust up a socialist (Bolshevik) meeting. MS of the 3 undercovers sneak attacking Maxim in the woods. MS of their leader getting shot in the back as he makes it to the top of a hill. MS's of Maxim making a getaway through the woods. MS's of a rich family relaxing in the woods, the father sprawled out in a hammock and reading the newspaper. CU of Maxim peeking through the brush. LS of Maxim falling down a sandy slope, running deeper into the woods. LS's of a dirty rail station, the underground network taking Maxim on: LS's of the train speeding off, passing the mounted Tzarist soldiers; CU of the engineer waving goodbye to the soldiers; MS of Maxim, buried in coal, sticking his hand out to shake the engineer's. 02:24:52:- MS of Natasha taking dictation from Maxim. MS of a man operating an old fashioned manual printing press; CU of the sheet, the writing in Russian. CU of a passport being stamped. MS of Maxim stealing a rather dramatic kiss from Natasha, a married woman (though she doesn't mind). MS of Maxim, a hobo stick slung over his shoulder, making his way into a field.