When Soviet cinema exploded onto screens in the 1920s (in part to disseminate propaganda for the new regime following the Russian Revolution in 1917), the impact was extraordinary. Poets, painters, even Hollywood producers, all reacted to its extraordinary new imagery. But when the Talkies took over, that impact faded, and only a handful of Soviet classics continue to be well known today. What has remained, however, are the advertising posters that were made for these vintage films.
Russian Film Posters (1900-1930) by Maria-Christina Boerner is a carefully researched tome tracing the history of the silent film poster in Russia. Truly evocative of the era, the 161 posters presented here feature the work of some of the most famous artists and illustrators of the day, including the pivotal constructivist artist Alexander Rodchenko, who was the subject of a Tate Modern retrospective last year.
Courtesy of Vivays Publishing we have five copies of this collectable volume for you to win. Do you know your Popova from your Warhol and your Medvedkin from your Hazanavicus? To enter, just leave a comment here telling us why you’d like to win a copy. Click here if you you don’t see the comments box.
Competition closes 5pm Friday 13 April.
Would love to win this for my dad he is a huge fan of this genre
I am a former cinema journalist that wrote a dissertation on imagery in French cinema. I was planning to start one on Russian cinema but couldn’t think where to start – this looks perfect.
would like to win this for my friend who is a huge film buff, it would be a nice addition to his 50th birthday presents
This is a fantastic prize, I am a big fan of poster art and this era intrigues me.
Hey!! I would like to win this book because i’m french student in history and I’m a huge fan of this kind of movie. This is perfect for my source.
Thanks
i’d love to win this set because i’m a huge fan of silent films and early soviet design! “man with a movie camera” is one of my all-time favourite films. also, i feel like i’d probably learn a lot from this book. it looks beautiful!
I would this, evocative of a time gone by and to som e extent a future that was never to be
This prize suits me down to the ground – I’m never on time, and allways Russian around – would love the posters
as a slavophile and constructivist design nerd, my life (and library) can never be complete without this book.
I would love, love, love to win the posters. Had to sell out an buy an Ikea coffee table (I know, it was bad.) But these would bring some vintage charm to the room and hopefully offset the table!
What a lovely giveaway – really interesting and would be a compliment to my film collection
because ive always collected cinema posters since i was a teenager
- how I remember those long cold summer nights, driving the traktors down to the drive-in….caviar and Partisan cigarettes…particularly enjoyed ‘Dial R-backwards for Murder”, so would r-backward-eally love to see this…
These posters are so reminiscent of the early Soviet history. The bold type-face used typical of that employed in hardline communist propaganda..it become predominant in all forms of Soviet art and culture and very iconic. That time has long since past but the style remains evocative and powerful. I would love to own some examples of these Grand Designs
I’d love to win this for my lovely wife who is in love with all things Russian – she’s a little superstar and I’d love to give this to her as a gift.
I can read it when I’ve finished work on the collective farm and it’ll remind me of the old days so much that tears will fall into my borscht.
looks very interesting
One of my top ten films is Battleship Potemkin (or Pokemon as my youngest one says…lol) – always has been since studying Russian cinema as a student. This era in cinema evokes such a strong Russian identity through these posters and to win one would be fantastic!
It would look good in my bedroom
I cannot compete with some of the comments but I am fascinated by this art and would like them on my wall.
IT WILL ENHANCE MY LIVING ROOM AND BE A MAJOR TALKING POINT
I’m a film buff and this era is one of my favourites.
As a huge fan of early Russian cinema I couldn’t think of a better prize to win. When you look at the influence it has had, and continues to have, on films and rock videos there is little doubt that any serious student of the cinema needs to appreciate the genius of the genre.
I’d like to win because it looks very interesting, and I am a bit of a fan of old style posters.
My husband is very interested in Russian heritage, it would be a great surprise for him.
I want to be a filmmaker so I’m deeply interested in film and all art that surrounds it! I will surely devour it with my eyes and mind.
Thank you for this chance,
Federico.
These remind me of an exhibit at Tate Modern a few years ago when I took my teenager on a cultural holiday to London. Fabulous evocative imagery and would be a stunning reminder of past times and our wonderful trip.
I’m a relatively new film buff, and while I have started my newfound love in Europe and Asia, would love to learn more about Russian cinema. These posters are really captivating, I would love to win this book!
I’d love to win this for me purely on aesthetic reasons, as I love the look of them and my house is from that period. I’m sure my brother would want some posters for his room though as he already has a film poster collection and spends lots of time making his own films.
What an excellent competition!
My partner and I are film buffs and I have been looking for a present for him for our anniversary – this will be absolutely perfect!!
I’m very interested in the history of Russian Cinema, and Dziga Vertov’s Man with a Movie Camera is among my favorite films. This book looks like it would be right up my alley.
I’d love to win this for my boyfriend. He’s fascinated with Russian and Soviet history, and is trying to start a collection of old wartime posters actually! This would be the perfect surprise gift and would make his day
I am starting to learn Russian so these would inspire me to keep going until I don’t need subtitles to understand!
i have a few friends who i work with from russia and love eharing about the films they have seen and would like to become more knowledgable about them
From Rodchenko to Fritz Lang
I thought I knew them all
Even obscure East German films
before they broke down the wall
This book I’d truly treasure
to show my friends in awe
the posters are just wonderful
just hope we know the score
Because I visited Russia in 1992 just after the fall of communism, on a school exchange. Unfortunately due to Russian vodka a lot of it is a blur, but my love of Russian culture still remains and I’d love this as a reminder!
I’m a massive movie fan of all genres and these would be so cool!
Love old russian posters, have a few on the wall already so would be great to extend my collection
Would love to win because Russian cinema is my favourite
I’m a film buff and would love to win this fantastic prize to go with my model of The Battleship Potempkin
I am Russian myself, I met my English husband when we worked for the same oil company in the Russian Far East. We have a beautiful baby daughter who I teach Russian language and try to teach her lots of things about the country of her mother. I’d love to win it for her to inspire her to research and find out about the certain periods of Russian history when she is older. Thank you.
Because i would cherish the book as much as do the films it depicts. No cinemas publicity is as intwined with the films it publicises as the Russians.
I will answer that in Russian ….Я бы хотел, чтобы выиграть их, потому что они удивительно – (YA by khotel, chtoby vyigratʹ ikh, potomu chto oni udivitelʹno -)
спасибо
My girlfriend is Russian and a huge Russian film fanatic. I am going to propose to her soon, this would definitely be a good start!
oh wow, these posters look fantastic!! by boyfriend would love these for his games room, i would love to get them framed for him!
My wife and I would love this prize! We both love old cinema and Russia, so this is a great combo. We’ve always wanted to visit Russia. Last year, on Sky Arts, we saw a film of old Russian propaganda films and we were entranced by them. Who knew you would see those old films on modern satellite television?
I would love to win this as I have collected posters since I was a child, and would love to add these to my collection!