Alexander Dovzhenko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oleksandr Dovzhenko
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| Born |
Olexander Petrovych Dovzhenko
September 10, 1894 Sosnytsia, Sosnitsky Uyezd, Chernihiv Governorate, Russian Empire
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| Died | November 25, 1956 (aged 62) Peredelkino, Soviet Union
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| Resting place | Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow |
| Nationality | Soviet |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1926–1956 |
| Spouse(s) | Yuliya Solntseva |
Oleksandr Petrovych Dovzhenko (born September 10, 1894 – died November 25, 1956) was a famous Ukrainian and Soviet filmmaker. He was a talented director, screenwriter, and producer.
Many people consider him one of the most important early Soviet filmmakers. He is often mentioned alongside other great directors like Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov. Dovzhenko was also a pioneer of a film style called Soviet montage theory, which uses quick cuts and different shots to create meaning.
Contents
Who Was Oleksandr Dovzhenko?
Early Life and Education
Oleksandr Dovzhenko was born in a small village called Viunyshche. This place is now part of Sosnytsia in Ukraine. His parents were Petro Semenovych Dovzhenko and Odarka Yermolayivna Dovzhenko. His family had roots as Ukrainian Cossacks.
Oleksandr was one of fourteen children, but sadly, many of his siblings passed away young. By the time he was eleven, he was the oldest child in his family. Only he and his sister Polina, who later became a doctor, lived to be adults.
Even though his parents didn't have much schooling, his grandfather encouraged him to learn. This led Oleksandr to become a teacher when he was 19 years old.
From Teacher to Filmmaker
Dovzhenko did not fight in World War I because of a heart problem. During the Russian Civil War, he served in the Red Army for a year. He was even held prisoner for a short time in 1919.
In 1920, he joined a political group called the Borotbist party. He later worked as an assistant for the Soviet government in cities like Warsaw and Berlin. When he returned to the Soviet Union in 1923, he started working as an artist. He illustrated books and drew cartoons in Kharkiv.
In 1926, Dovzhenko decided to try making films in Odesa. He quickly showed his talent. He co-directed his second film, Vasya the Reformer.
Famous Films and Early Success
Dovzhenko became very well-known with his film Zvenyhora in 1928. This movie told the story of two brothers: one who became a bandit and the other who fought for the revolution. This film made him a major director.
He then made what is known as his "Ukraine Trilogy." These three films are Zvenyhora, Arsenal, and Earth. These are his most famous works, especially in Western countries.
His film Arsenal was not liked by the communist leaders in Ukraine. They even started to bother Dovzhenko. However, Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, watched the film and liked it. This helped Dovzhenko at the time.
The Film 'Earth'
Dovzhenko's film Earth is considered one of the greatest silent movies ever made. A famous British film director, Karel Reisz, even ranked Earth as the second-greatest film in 2002.
The movie showed the idea of collective farms in a good way. Its story was about a landowner trying to harm a successful collective farm. The film also had a famous opening scene of an old man enjoying an apple.
However, Soviet leaders did not like Earth very much. A poet named Demyan Bedny criticized it in a newspaper. Because of this, Dovzhenko had to change parts of the film.
Working Under Stalin's Influence
Challenges and Direct Appeals
Dovzhenko's next film, Ivan, was about a worker building the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. This film was criticized for supposedly promoting fascism. Fearing trouble, Dovzhenko personally asked to speak with Stalin.
The next day, he was invited to the Kremlin, the main government building. There, he read the script for his next film, Aerograd, to Stalin and other powerful leaders. The film was about defending a new city from Japanese spies. Stalin approved the film but suggested that Dovzhenko's next project should be about a Ukrainian communist fighter named Nikolay Shchors.
In 1935, Dovzhenko received the Order of Lenin, a high award. Later, Stalin told him he was "free" and not "obligated" to make the film about Shchors. But Dovzhenko understood this as a hint. He paused work on Aerograd and started working on the Shchors film instead.
However, the script for Shchors was also criticized for having "serious political errors." Dovzhenko wrote to Stalin, explaining that any mistakes were due to lack of talent, not bad intentions.
Later Films and Recognition
Dovzhenko finished Aerograd in 1935. He then completed Shchors in 1939. Even though some of his colleagues faced difficulties during this time, Dovzhenko was paid a large sum for Shchors. He also received the Stalin Prize in 1941.
During World War II, Dovzhenko wrote an article and a film script called Ukraine in Flames. This work was criticized for having "nationalistic moods." There are different ideas about who was behind this criticism. Some say it was a Red Army leader, while others suggest Ukrainian writers who first praised it then changed their minds.
After this, Dovzhenko focused on writing novels and a screenplay about a biologist named Michurin. The film Michurin earned him another Stalin Prize in 1949. However, the film was changed many times to get political approval.
After Stalin's death, the situation for Dovzhenko improved. He started two new projects: a film based on Gogol's story Taras Bulba and Poem About a Sea. Sadly, he died of a heart attack on November 25, 1956, before finishing them. His wife, Yulia Solntseva, completed Poem About a Sea.
Over his 20-year career, Oleksandr Dovzhenko personally directed only seven films.
Legacy and Influence
Oleksandr Dovzhenko was a mentor to younger Ukrainian filmmakers like Larisa Shepitko and Sergei Parajanov. His work greatly influenced future generations of directors.
The Dovzhenko Film Studios in Kyiv, Ukraine, were named in his honor after his death. This shows how important he was to Ukrainian cinema.
In 2016, a street in Melitopol, Ukraine, was renamed Oleksandr Dovzhenko Street. However, in 2023, after the city was occupied by the Russian army, the street was given back its old name.
Filmography
- Love's Berries (1926)
- Vasya the Reformer (1926)
- The Diplomatic Pouch (1927)
- Zvenigora (1928)
- Arsenal (1929)
- Earth (1930)
- Ivan (1932)
- Aerograd (1935)
- Bukovina: a Ukrainian Land (1939)
- Shchors* (1939)
- Battle for Soviet Ukraine* (1943)
- Soviet Earth (1945)
- Victory in the Ukraine and the Expulsion of the Germans from the Boundaries of the Ukrainian Soviet Earth (1945)
- Michurin (1948)
- Farewell, America (1949)
- Poem of the Sea* (1959)
*codirected by Yuliya Solntseva
Film award
An important film award, called the Oleksandr Dovzhenko State Prize, was named after him. This award recognizes great contributions to filmmaking.
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Dovzhenko para niños
