Early Russian Cinema, Vol. 4: Provincial Variations

Early Russian cinema was predominantly urban and concentrated in the city of Moscow, but as audiences grew, smaller provincial entrepreneurs sought to establish themselves in the industry. The two films included in this volume are pristine-as-can-be examples of how this movement introduced novelty into film of the era: Wedding Day (1912) and Merchant Bashkirov’s Daughter (1913). The former utilized documentary footage to create films d'art out of everyday life, while the latter subverts expectations with a dramatic plot aiming to throttle the viewer. Both provide remarkable insight into the sociology of early Russian filmmaking, and both are available today!