Watch Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass

Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass is a 1931 Soviet propaganda film directed by Dziga Vertov. The film is a tribute to the coal-mining industry in the Donbass region of the Soviet Union, which at the time was one of the largest industrial centers in the world. The film uses a combination of documentary footage, staged sequences, and montage editing to celebrate the achievements of the workers in the region and to promote the ideals of Soviet socialism.

The film opens with an extended sequence showing the industrial might of the Donbass region. We see coal mines, furnaces, and factories churning out goods and power. Through montage editing, we see the industrial process as a kind of creative act, fitting in with the Soviet emphasis on industrialization as a means of achieving artistic and cultural goals. The footage is intercut with shots of the workers who make it all possible. We see them loading coal, tending machines, and engaging in other tasks, all with a sense of great purpose and enthusiasm.

From there, the film moves into a series of vignettes, each of which focuses on a different aspect of life in the Donbass region. We see workers at their leisure, playing soccer, singing songs, or participating in other cultural activities. We see families and communities celebrating together, enjoying food, drink, and music. Throughout these sequences, the film emphasizes the unity and solidarity of the people of the region, who are all working together towards a common goal.

The second half of the film focuses on a specific event: the staging of a new opera, "Shvartz" (The Blacksmith), which tells the story of a homeless youth who is taken in by a kindly blacksmith and taught to work with his hands. The opera is presented as an example of high art emerging from the everyday struggles of the working class. We see the stages of production, from the design of the sets to the construction of the costumes. We see the rehearsals, with the performers singing and dancing with great energy and passion.

The final sequence of the film is a montage of images from the Donbass region, showcasing its natural beauty and cultural richness. We see landscapes, cityscapes, and people engaged in a variety of activities. The tone is celebratory and optimistic, with the suggestion that life in the Donbass will continue to improve as long as the people maintain their drive and enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass is a film that is firmly rooted in its time and place. Its message of socialist unity and industrial progress was designed to appeal to a Soviet audience that was still struggling to build a new society out of the ruins of the old one. At the same time, its use of innovative camera techniques and editing strategies foreshadowed the emergence of documentary filmmaking as an important artistic form in the 1930s.

Today, the film retains its power as a document of a specific historical moment. It is a valuable record of the Donbass region's importance as an industrial center and of the values that underpinned Soviet society. Even viewers who are skeptical of those values can appreciate the dynamic energy of the film and the way in which it captures a sense of collective purpose and enthusiasm. As a piece of cinematic history, Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass remains a fascinating and influential work.

Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass is a 1931 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 6 minutes.