Стачka

Strike is considered Eisenstein's best achievement, so I was anticipating some type of surprise. The title is quite straightforward- it examines the rising of the masses, their unity and attempt to bring change to the life of Russian working class. At the end, their effort is mercilessly smashed by the police, factory managers and the person who manipulates everything- the tsar. The film examines the relationships between the people within power and contrasts them with the working class majority. The first are presented as blood-sucking creatures, obese, soulless and never happy, while the latter tend to win our sympathy with their heroic solidarity and selfless battle for a better life. Their unity generates a powerful force, so the ruling class is left with no other option but to try and divide them, spreading spies and corrupting the leaders of the movement. Throughout the film, the viewer is gradually convinced that the workers are in a state of neglect, with no protection from the government and its services whatsoever. They are not only helpless, but also totally replaceable according to the ruling circles, so their mass destruction at the end seems like an excusable remedy for the government.

Strike is made of 6 parts, each one examining the cause and effect of the event itself, and presenting us with numerous characters, sometimes difficult to follow or understand. In my view, the director consciously avoids to point at just one person as a leader, to create a broader picture of the strong unity and equality between the comrades. With the power of montage, he manages to reinforce their desperate situation and manipulated lives. As a whole, the film is difficult to follow especially by audience, that is not familiar with the events in Russia from that period.
Eseinstein uses immense symbolism in a number of scenes, to suggest general attitude to a matter or the outlet of the strike.
An interesting film to watch once in a lifetime, but "Battleship Botemkin" is better in my view.