Socialism on Film
The Cold War and International Propaganda
Look behind the iron curtain with this collection of films from the communist world.
Sourced from the British Film Institute (BFI), Socialism on Film documents the communist world, from the Russian Revolution to the end of the Cold War. This unique collection of documentary films, features and newsreels reveals all aspects of life behind the Iron Curtain, as seen by filmmakers from the USSR, Vietnam, Cuba, China, East Germany, Eastern Europe and more.
Providing a counterpoint to Western perceptions of communist states and their actions, the films illuminate how socialist countries saw themselves and the world around them during the major political and social events of the twentieth century. The footage was originally sourced from communist states, then versioned into English language for private distribution in Britain and the West.
This is the largest film collection of its kind to survive in Western Europe. The films have been conserved, digitised from the original 16mm and 35mm reels, and are fully transcribed and searchable.
Highlights
- Watch first hand the Soviet fears on President Reagan's Star Wars defence initiative
- Operation Teutonic Sword is an East German documentary film examining and exposing figures of authority in West Germany. It was banned from general release in Britain due to its allegations about NATA general Hans Speidel's past
- Lenin and the progress of the Russian Revolution are memorialised in the titles Lenin is Always With Us and October Days
- The Vietnamese perspective on the war with the US is shown in titles such as War as We Saw It and the Pilots in Pyjamas series
- Science documentaries like Attention Weighlessness discuss Soviet space exploration and cosmonaut training
- Second World War documentaries such as Feat of Moscow and feature films like On the Way to Berlin reveal the way in which the Soviets remember their war and its significance to their present
- Featuring Latin American, Islands Ablaze looks at the Cuban Revolution and its benefits and Compenero: Victor Jara of Chile is a BAFTA-nominated film about the folk singer and the aftermath of the Chilean coup of 1973
- The Spanish Civil War is covered in fascinating titles such as Save Spanish Children and Spanish Earth
- Chinese cultural endeavours are showcased in documentaries such as Actors in the Making and Peking Variety Artists
- Newsreel series such as USSR Today and China Today give vignettes of life in these countries.
Included in
Modules include
| Module | Summary | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Module I: Wars & revolutions |
This module explores many of the conflicts, tensions and uprisings of the twentieth century from the unique perspective of socialist filmmakers around the globe. Comprised of nine sub-categories – including Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Nuclear War and Peace Movements, The Second World War and the Rise of Fascism, and Revolution, War, Conflict in China and Korea – this module turns a lens on political upheaval across Europe, Asia and Central America, digitising rare footage which relates to the Vietnam War, the Cuban Revolution, nuclear weapons and growing demands for peace. |
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| Module II: Newsreels & magazines |
Containing nearly 1,000 individual titles, Module II focuses predominantly on newsreel series including 10 Minutes Around the USSR, China Today, GDR Magazine, Czechoslovak Life and Soviet Sport. Produced across the communist world, the majority of these films follow a short magazine format and present a curated ideal of the political, social and economic developments experienced daily by citizens, both young and old. A sub-collection dedicated to Diplomatic and Political Newsreels is particularly fascinating, shedding light on Cold War alliances and summits. |
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| Module III: Culture & society |
Module III touches on themes including the arts, sport, work, and youth and education, providing Western audiences with an unparalleled insight into life behind the Iron Curtain. These propaganda films encompass a broad range of content, which focus on healthcare and tourism, women’s work, environmentalism and education. Module highlights include footage shot in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, documentaries on the Space Race, and films which aim to present Soviet power as a modernising force for women’s rights. |
Key data
Period covered
Source archive
- The British Film Institute (BFI)
- 20th century global history
- Politics and economics
- Propaganda studies
- Communist studies
- Film, media and communication studies
- International relations
- Diplomacy
- War and military studies
- The collection consists of digitised film from 16mm and 35mm reels. The genres include documentaries, newsreels and feature films
- Alan Burton, Leicester University
- Mark Philip Bradley, University of Chicago
- Nicholas Cull, University of Southern California
- Jo Fox, University of Durham
- Matthew Johnson, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Peter Kenez, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Nicholas Pronay, University of Leeds
- Graham Roberts, Leeds Trinity University
- Alan Welch, University of Kent
- Denise Youngblood, University of Vermont
- Cultural Studies
- East Asian Studies
- European Studies
- Marketing, Advertising and Design
- Political History and Science
- Sociology, Social History and Social Science
- Visual Culture
- War and Conflict
- Video chronology
- Searchable map
- Academic interviews on video
- Contextual essays
Reviews
Highly recommended for Undergraduates through professionals/practitioners
- Author: J A Knapp, Penn State University
- Publisher: Choice
