Earth

Watch Earth

  • NR
  • 1930
  • 1 hr 12 min
  • 7.2  (6,249)

The 1930 film Earth, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Alexander Dovzhenko, is a silent black-and-white masterpiece that depicts the struggles of Ukrainian peasants during the period of collectivization in the Soviet Union. The film begins with a series of stunning images of wheat fields and birds in flight, signaling the idyllic beauty of the Ukrainian countryside. We are then introduced to our main characters, a group of peasants who are working together to plow a field. The leader of the group is Vasyl (Stepan Shkurat), a deeply spiritual man who has a profound connection to the earth and its cycles. His daughter, Kateryna (Yuliya Solntseva), is engaged to a young man named Hryhoriy (Semyon Svashenko), who is a member of the local village council.

As the film progresses, we see the conflict that arises between the peasants and the officials who are implementing collectivization. The peasants are deeply attached to their land and their way of life, and they resist the government's attempts to force them to join collective farms. Meanwhile, the officials see the peasants as obstacles to progress and view them with suspicion and contempt.

One of the most powerful scenes in the film depicts the arrival of a giant tractor, which is intended to mechanize the farming process and boost productivity. The peasants are initially excited by the possibilities of the new technology, but their hopes are dashed when they realize that the tractor is meant to replace them as workers. The tractor is ultimately destroyed by a group of enraged peasants, who see it as a symbol of their oppression.

In addition to its political themes, Earth is also a deeply poetic film that celebrates the beauty and rhythm of life in the Ukrainian countryside. Dovzhenko employs a striking visual style that incorporates close-ups of natural objects and juxtaposes images of humans and animals to create a sense of harmony and interconnectedness. The film's lyrical tone is reinforced by a haunting musical score that features traditional Ukrainian folk songs.

Although Earth reflects the ideology of its time and place, it transcends its historical context through its universal themes and its powerful imagery. It is a film that speaks to the essential human yearning for connection to the natural world, as well as to the struggle for dignity and freedom in the face of oppression. As such, it remains a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and uplift audiences nearly a century after its initial release.

Earth is a 1930 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.

Earth
Description
Where to Watch Earth
Earth is available to watch free on Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download on demand at . Some platforms allow you to rent Earth for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1930
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 12 min
  • Language
    Russian
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (6,249)
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