Topic: Propaganda

Direction Charles Chaplin

Cast Charles Chaplin · Paulette Goddard · Jack Oakie · Reginald Gardiner

Synopsis The Great Dictator (1940) is set in the 1930s, where the fictional nation of Tomania is ruled by the tyrannical Adenoid Hynkel, who harbors ambitions of global conquest. Meanwhile, in the Jewish quarter of the capital, a humble barber resides,...

Direction Adam Curtis

Synopsis The Century of the Self (TV Miniseries) (2002) delves into the transformative influence of Sigmund Freud, the architect of psychoanalysis, on our understanding of the mind and its mechanisms. This thought-provoking documentary investigates how political entities and corporations have harnessed...

Direction Sergei M. Eisenstein

Cast Aleksandr Antonov · Vladimir Barsky · Grigori Aleksandrov · Mikhail Gomorov

Synopsis Battleship Potemkin (1925) chronicles the tale of a naval vessel that has recently concluded its service in the Russo-Japanese War, where the crew is on the brink of rebellion due to harsh conditions and inadequate food supplies. The situation reaches...

Direction Mikhail Kalatozov

Cast Luz María Collazo · José Gallardo · Raúl García · Sergio Corrieri

Synopsis I Am Cuba (1964) delves into the alluring yet corrupt realm of pre-revolutionary Cuba under the rule of Fulgencio Batista, juxtaposing it with the harsh realities of poverty and oppression faced by the Cuban populace. The film weaves together four...

Direction Sut Jhally · Bathsheba Ratzkoff

Synopsis Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land (2004) delves into the intricate ways in which the foreign policy objectives of American political leaders, in tandem with Israeli public relations tactics, shape U.S. news coverage of the Middle East conflict. By interweaving...

Direction Sergei M. Eisenstein · Grigori Aleksandrov

Cast Vassilli Nikandrov · Boris Livanov · Eduard Tissé · Nikolai Podvoisky

Synopsis October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927) presents a documentary-style retelling of the pivotal events in Petrograd from the fall of the monarchy in February 1917 to the dissolution of the provisional government and the issuance of the peace...

Direction Sergei M. Eisenstein

Cast Maksim Shtraukh · Grigori Aleksandrov · Mikhail Gomorov · Ivan Klyukvin

Synopsis Strike (1925) unfolds in the tumultuous factory districts of Russia under the Czarist regime, where discontent brews among the labor force, and clandestine plans for a strike are set in motion. The management, in response, deploys spies and external agents...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Brian Donlevy · Walter Brennan · Anna Lee · Gene Lockhart

Synopsis Hangmen Also Die! (1943) presents a fictionalized account of the daring assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the high-ranking Nazi official and "protector" of Czechoslovakia during World War II. The narrative centers around the assassin, who must navigate the escalating Nazi manhunt...

Direction Vsevolod Pudovkin

Cast Vera Baranovskaya · Nikolai Batalov · Aleksandr Chistyakov · Ivan Koval-Samborsky

Synopsis Mother (1926) is a seminal work in the realm of Soviet silent cinema. The narrative revolves around a young revolutionary who sacrifices his life while battling the harsh conditions and oppression of Tsarist Russia during the 1905 pre-war revolution. His...

Direction Jayne Loader · Kevin Rafferty · Pierce Rafferty

Synopsis The Atomic Cafe (1982) is a thought-provoking documentary that assembles a collection of 1960s films and footage designed to educate the public on nuclear attack preparedness and the impacts of radiation. The documentary includes archival material from government-produced films, which...

Direction Leni Riefenstahl

Cast Adolf Hitler · Josef Goebbels

Synopsis Triumph of the Will (1935) is a renowned propaganda film that blends documentary elements, directed by the German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. The film meticulously captures the 1934 Nazi Party Congress held in Nuremberg, showcasing the grandeur and spectacle of the...

Direction Aleksandr Dovzhenko

Cast Stepan Shkurat · Semyon Svashenko · Yuliya Solntseva · Yelena Maksimova

Synopsis Earth (Zemlya) (1930) is a cinematic journey that captures the essence of Ukrainian peasant life through the lens of director Alexander Dovzhenko's unique "film poem" approach. The narrative unfolds through a series of vivid montages, delving into the natural cycles...

Direction Michael Winterbottom · Mat Whitecross

Synopsis The Shock Doctrine (2009) delves into the controversial concept of disaster capitalism, as explored in Naomi Klein's acclaimed book. The documentary investigates how governments and multinational corporations capitalize on the chaos and disruption caused by wars, terrorist acts, and natural...

Direction Dziga Vertov

Synopsis Kino-Eye - Life Caught Unawares (1924) is a captivating documentary that celebrates the vibrant life in a Soviet village, with a particular focus on the energetic endeavors of the Young Pioneers. These young individuals are depicted as always on the...

Direction Vsevolod Pudovkin

Cast Vera Baranovskaya · Aleksandr Chistyakov · Ivan Chuvelyov · Sergei Komarov

Synopsis The End of St. Petersburg (1927) follows the journey of a simple peasant who ventures to the bustling city of St. Petersburg in search of employment. Unknowingly, he aids in the apprehension of an old acquaintance from his village who...

Direction William Wyler

Cast Greer Garson · Walter Pidgeon · Christopher Severn · Richard Ney

Synopsis Mrs. Miniver (1942) presents a poignant narrative about an ordinary English family navigating the challenges of war through a collection of impactful vignettes. The family, led by a kind and elegant matriarch, faces numerous trials, including the father's departure to...

Cast Paul Lukas · George Chandler · Felix Bressart · Kurt Kreuger

Synopsis Don't Be a Sucker (S) (1943) is a concise yet impactful short film crafted by the United States Department of War in 1943. This film is imbued with strong anti-racist and anti-fascist messages, aiming to enlighten viewers about the perils...

Direction Justin Folk

Cast Jordan Peterson · Miriam Grossman · Matt Walsh

Synopsis What Is a Woman? (2022) explores the evolving understanding and cultural intricacies surrounding the term "woman" in contemporary society. The documentary delves into the multifaceted interpretations and debates that have emerged around this word, examining how it is perceived and...

Direction Dziga Vertov

Synopsis One-Sixth of the World (1926) is a cinematic journey through the Soviet Union, serving as a comprehensive visual report on the state of the USSR. This documentary masterfully compiles images from across the Soviet landscape, documenting the far-reaching impact of...

Direction Vsevolod Pudovkin

Cast Valery Inkijinoff · Aleksandr Chistyakov · Viktor Tsoppi · Karl Gurnyak

Synopsis Storm Over Asia (1928) follows the journey of a humble Mongolian herdsman who, in 1918, seeks refuge in the hills after a violent altercation with a deceitful Western fur trader. Two years later, he joins the partisans in their struggle...