Stalin's Collectivization in Film: Earth (1930) by Alexander Dovzhenko

The immensity of the sky bears down on the Ukrainian steppe as the arrival of a tractor signals a fundamental change to a centuries-old way of life...

Earth (1930), directed by Alexander Dovzhenko, is a Soviet silent film that portrays the collectivization of Ukrainian agriculture. It follows the struggles between wealthy kulaks and poor peasants, symbolizing the ideological clash between tradition and progress. It is the third film, with Zvenigora (1928) and Arsenal (1929), of Dovzhenko's "Ukraine Trilogy".

The film is celebrated for its poetic imagery and revolutionary spirit, reflecting early Soviet cinema's innovative style. It was recently voted one of the greatest films of all time in Sight & Sound's international survey of film critics and filmmakers.

Please watch the movie in advance (available here) for the discussion.