DVD REVIEW
LENIN-VOICE OF THE REVOLUTION, A&E PRODUCTION, 2005
Every militant who wants to fight for socialism, or put the fight for socialism back on the front burner, needs to come to terms with the legacy of Vladimir Lenin and his impact on 20th century revolutionary thought. Every radical who believes that society can be changed by just a few adjustments needs to address this question as well in order to understand the limits of such a position. Thus, it is necessary for any politically literate person of this new generation to go through the arguments both politically and organizationally associated with Lenin’s name. Before delving into his works a review of his life and times would help to orient those unfamiliar with the period. Obviously the best way to do this is read one of the many biographies about him. There is not dearth of such biographies although they overwhelmingly tend to be hostile. But so be it. For those who prefer a quick snapshot view of his life this documentary, although much, much too simply is an adequate sketch of the highlights of his life. It is worth an hour of your time, in any case.
The film goes through Lenin's early childhood, the key role that the execution of older brother Alexander for an assassination attempt on the Czar played in driving him to revolution, his early involvement in the revolutionary socialist movement, his imprisonment and various internal and external exiles, his role in the 1905 Revolution, his role in the 1917 Revolution, his consolidation of power through the Bolshevik Party and his untimely death in 1924. An added feature, as usual in these kinds of films, is the use of ‘talking heads’ who periodically explain what it all meant. I would caution those who are unfamiliar with the history of the anti-Bolshevik movement that three of the commentators, Adam Ulam, Richard Daniels and Robert Conquest were ‘stars’ of that movement at the height of the anti-Soviet Cold War. I would also add that nothing presented in this biography, despite the alleged additional materials available with the ‘opening’ of the Soviet files, that has not been familiar for a long time.
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Didn't quite get the conclusion of your review, do you reckon this DVD is worth watching? Also, i agree with your point about biographies of lenin as far as i've seen, i wondered if there was a biogrpahy of lenin you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteLeftwing I left a note on your site. For others who might be confused about my take on the Leinin DVD here goes. If you do not know much about Lenin's life this is an okay snapshot for general information. If you do, look elsewhere. As pointed out in the review most sources are hostile but one must work through that. Of course, in the end one must read Lenin's major works particualrly the seminal What Is To Be Done? to get the real measure of the man. Marx, Lenin Trostsky, et. al will get no awards for gentility of mmanner. That is not what we admire about them or the reason that we desperately need to read their works. We are in a politcal war and these are some of our 'big guns'.
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