Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass

Dziga Vertov’s Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass (1931) serves as a groundbreaking and ambitious film that revolutionized the concepts of narrative, cinema, and politics, leading the way towards innovative cinematography and political storytelling. The film is a Soviet silent documentary, a montage classified under the genre of Constructivism, a movement in 20th Century Russian and Soviet art which rejected the idea of art for art's sake in favor of art as a practice for social purposes. In Enthusiasm, Vertov presented the transformational impact of industrialization within the Soviet Union in real time, documenting and dramatizing the hard work of ordinary people in creating a socialist utopia.

The film primarily focuses on the Donbass region of Ukraine, known for its rich mineral resources. The title itself, "Enthusiasm", reflects the joyful commitment of workers as the driving force propelling the Soviet society to its utopian ambition. Vertov wanted to show that the proletariat were not just the receivers of social change, but also instigators of revolutionary transformation.

The movie uniquely uses a symphony, not just in the soundtrack but also in the narrative structure. Enthusiasm is more than a documentary; it is a visual symphony. Vertov, a pioneer in film techniques, structured the film in five parts akin to a musical composition with a prologue, four movements, and an epilogue. The lack of conventional narrative and actors makes the films a montage of images and scenes from life orchestrated together like symphony notes. Its radical use of montage, superimposition, double exposure, unusual camera angles, and inventive rhythmic synchronization of image and sound became a significant influence on subsequent documentary and avant-garde filmmaking.

Its audacious soundtrack is an integral part of the film and works as a tool for political expression. Vertov's Symphony of the Donbass was one of the first films to use diegetic sounds, aiming to create a symphony from the sounds of everyday life in the factory and city - the clanging metal, the chugging engines, the cacophonous explosions in the mines - weaving these sounds together in a way that was groundbreaking for its time.

Enthusiasm serves as a fascinating time capsule of the period, showing the fast-paced and gritty Soviet industrialization from the point of view of the common people. You will see the transformation of landscapes, the rise of factories, and the changes in people's lives, covering various sectors such as mining, steelworks, agriculture, and transportation. Beyond the urban industrial setting, Vertov also captures the life in Soviet collective farms and countryside, showing how the government’s modernization plans were also altering rural life.

The film is an ambitious endeavor to provide a lyrical and ideological depiction of socialist construction in the Soviet Union's early days. Vertov attempts to juxtapose Soviet progress with the decaying elements of capitalist society. His film serves as a visual critique of religion, alcoholism, and wealth disparity, setting it apart from the usual propagandist tone of most Soviet films of the period.

Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass encapsulates Vertov's revolutionary filmmaking ethos, light-years ahead of his time. He expressed his belief that the camera could reveal more than the human eye, creating a new truth, a new reality – the 'Kino-eye.' This movie will be cherished by anyone engrossed in the pioneering spirit of early cinema and experimental art, marking a significant milestone in the history of world cinema.

Despite being overlooked due to its overtly political content, the film has left a lasting impression on the world of cinema. Its groundbreaking techniques have influenced many directors and are still relevant in discussions about non-fiction films. Revisiting Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbass is not only a nostalgic view into the changing times of the Soviet Union but also a homage to an era of filmmaking that ventured into the unknown and broke barriers for generations to come.