Notice, how in my last column, on several occasions I said “largest post-Soviet budget…”? This is because the amount of money the Soviets put into the arts, especially motion pictures. The 1968 Soviet adaptation of War and Peace cost one hundred million 1968 dollars; around seven hundred million 2009 dollars. The sheer amount of manpower they could muster for a film is utterly staggering, making some of the battle scenes, still to this day, the most majestic caught on film.

This resulted in a lot of highly experimental films and to a greater extent, animation, most of which are something to behold. Naturally, film makes fantastic
propaganda. Naturally, that rings just as true today as ever, and the Soviets are no great exception there. The sheer scope of it, however, puts them in a league of their own!

Among some gems:

What Hitler Wants

Pioneers Violin

White Army, Black Baron

Silver Hoof