H. L. Mencken
The Battleship Potemkin is based on a true story of sailors rebellion against their officers aboard the ship Potemkin. Their rebellion is triggered by them being forced to eat maggot-infested meat, and when they refuse the officer makes any protestors to stand on deck to be shot. However one sailer speaks up, ‘Brothers, do you realize who you are shooting’. The men fight a sailor is killed, Vakulinchuk. There is an attack on the shores of Odessa and the sailors go to fight a squadron, however they are called ‘Brothers’ and realize they need not to fight but to join them. There is a celebration.
The film has a very slow political plot that seems irritating to modern viewers. However, The Bttleship Potemkin is a must see for people interested in the history of cinema, as it masks the beginning of montage. Sergal Eisenstein developed a style of editing called intellectual montage which was aimed at influencing the audiences reaction and emotions by juxtaposing contrasting images to create a third meaning.
Eisenstein’s style of film making was not the traditional Hollywood way. He did not use a main character or hero; instead he made everyone a stereotype such as a sailor.
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