Montages

1. Re-watch the up to 0:45. What atmosphere do the contrasting shots create? How does Eisenstein create a sense of foreboding alongside the overriding atmosphere?

The first 0:45 seconds of the scene is a cheerful and peaceful scene that has been created by combining different shots of people waving goodbye to their loved ones. Everyone seems happy except for the young boy at 0:25, looks upset or somewhat worried. This creates a sense of foreboding because we can tell that not everything is alright. The other scene, with a handicapped man, also creates a sense of foreboding. The scene appears to be ambiguously happy until the disabled man enters. The man with no legs represents the side that we don’t see. Although these people are all showing a happy appearance, their loved ones may return looking like that man. It makes the atmosphere uneasy because it shows an insight to what might happen.





2. Watch the rest of the clip again. How does Eisenstein create a contrast between the soldiers and the people? How and why does our view of the people's feelings towards the soldiers change?

There are many contrasts that Eisenstein creates between the soldiers and the people. As the soldiers attack we not once see their face, whereas we constantly see the citizens faces. This is so that we can feel disconnected from the solders but have sympathy for the people. The soldiers are representing villains and the people represent the victims. We see the reactions of the civilians. There is a lot of focus directed at the women with their children to make it clear how powerless the situation is. In the beginning, when the soldiers first attacked we didn’t really have an opinion on the soldiers, other than the fact that they were just attacking. When we see the Woman carrying her child to the soldiers, we feel that we might see some good attitude but they show inhumanity by shooting the mother and child. While this happens the soldiers’ faces are still kept hidden from the audience. The people must have seen them as monsters destroying their town and lives.