Watch The General Line

The General Line is a 1929 Soviet silent film directed by Sergei Eisenstein and Grigori Aleksandrov, who were responsible for creating the documentary-style of filmmaking known as the "Soviet Montage". This film, originally titled "Staroye i novoye" or "Old and New", tells the story of a peasant woman named Marfa Lapkina who attempts to modernize her small rural village by purchasing a tractor and starting a cooperative.

The film opens with a scene depicting Lapkina and her husband discussing the possibility of purchasing a tractor. Lapkina is determined to invest in the tractor, even with the objections and skepticism of her husband and other villagers. The rest of the film is centered around the various reactions and consequences of the purchase of the tractor, as well as the overall efforts to modernize their town.

The main conflict of the film is centered around the cooperative that Lapkina starts, which surprisingly gains the support of the previously-skeptical villagers. The cooperative allows members to share resources and work together towards a common goal- in this case, the modernization of their village.

Alongside the cooperative, Lapkina also ends up in a very interesting love triangle between two men- an old, wealthy farmer and a younger, more energetic tractor driver. As the story progresses, the dynamics of relationships change and there is an exploration of different societal roles and expectations for women.

Throughout the film, the audience is transported to a different time and place, giving a sense of both the beauty and struggles of rural village life. Eisenstein's keen editing style is strikingly present, as the camera angles, shots and movements capture the essence of the setting and convey the message of the storyline. The General Line is a powerful cinematic display of the sentiment behind the Soviet Montage movement, where the filmmakers aim to tell a story through an unconventional form of cinema that prioritizes the collective message over the individual narrative.

Overall, The General Line is a film that combines the directorial talents of Eisenstein and Aleksandrov to create a visually stunning, socially revolutionary and emotionally resonant experience. The film's subject matter remains relevant even today, as it explores fundamental questions of society, gender roles, and economic structures that will always be relevant. The General Line is a key piece of early Soviet cinema and an important milestone in the history of filmmaking, paving the way for years of artistic innovation and exploration.