A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts
HistorieCinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.
Siste episoder av A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts podcast
- NEWS! Ally Pitts introduces Milton Keynes Gallery screening of Battleship Potemkin (00:01:53)
Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece continues its centenary run in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in throughout September and October 2025. Since we published a mini-episode about this BFI season last week, our intrepid host has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at MK Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm. He's also in talks with The Light in Banbury, Oxfordshire about introducing it there too on Sunday 26th October! Links: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/battleship-potemkin https://mkgallery.org/event/battleship-potemkin-12a/ https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/ https://thelight.co.uk/ https://uppcinema.com/show/battleship-potemkin/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ Klassiki: Battleship Potemkin is also on the streaming service Klassiki with a score by Max Reinhardt & the Instant Orchestra. For a 30-day free trial: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWSFLASH: Battleship Potemkin centenary screenings & Blu-ray release (00:09:03)
Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in late August, and through September and October 2025. UPDATE: Since this mini-episode was originally published, our intrepid host Ally Pitts has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at Milton Keynes Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm, and he's also in talks with The Light in Banbury, Oxfordshire to introduce it there too on Sunday 26th October! Battleship Potemkin is also on the streaming service Klassiki with a score by Max Reinhardt & the Instant Orchestra. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/battleship-potemkin https://uppcinema.com/show/battleship-potemkin/ https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/battleship-potemkin-12a https://mkgallery.org/event/battleship-potemkin-12a/ https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/ https://thelight.co.uk/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ Klassiki: For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ https://films.klassiki.online/battleship-potemkin If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Ally Pitts curates Jane Austen 250th anniversary film season! Plus Whit Stillman tour, and podcast recommendations! (00:05:50)
Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a season of films adapted from or inspired by the works of Jane Austen that he has co-curated with the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also mentions Whit Stillman's UK tour in late July 2025. And Soviet Winnie the Pooh. Obviously. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-jane-austen-250/ T. Hanks for the Memories Podcast: Bridge of Spies (2015) episode The Social Minute: A Social Network minute-by-minute podcast As If! A Clueless minute-by-minute podcast by Darren Husted Soviet animator Fyodor Khitruk, director of the Soviet Winnie the Pooh cartoons https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ Milton Keynes Gallery cinema listings https://lostreels.co.uk/whitstillmantour.html Picturehouse Rediscover strand Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- Ballad of a Soldier (Grigori Chukhrai; 1959) (02:19:40)
Matthew Chadourne, stand-up comedian, executive producer and creative director of the Oxford Comedy Festival, and co-host of the Saint Misbehavin' podcast joins host Ally Pitts to discuss this understated Oscar and Bafta-winning classic by Ukrainian-born World War II veteran Grigori Chukhrai. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/our-acts https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/shows https://qedcomedylab.co.uk/saintmisbehavinpod https://www.criterion.com/films/343-ballad-of-a-soldier https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/201-ballad-of-a-soldier https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse/list?sort=spine_number&country=Soviet%20Union https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/ten-great-non-hollywood-world-war-ii-movies/detail/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Tarkovsky’s Mirror in Oxford, PLUS Soviet cinema at PCC, and Hugo Max silent film screening tour (00:03:52)
Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a screening of Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror that he'll be introducing on Sunday 25th May as part of the Dreamscapes classic season at Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also shares news about screenings of Soviet films at the Prince Charles Cinema, and shares details of silent film screenings with live music by Hugo Max. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Dreamscapes classic season at Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-dreamscapes/ Antifa on screen classic season at the UPP https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/ Come and See & Elem Klimov https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episodes/come-and-see-elem-klimov-1985-41611107 https://uppcinema.com/show/come-and-see/ https://letterboxd.com/thetop100/list/the-greatest-films-ever-made-as-selected/ https://www.criterion.com/films/28895-come-and-see The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London https://princecharlescinema.com/seasons-events/bleak-week/ https://princecharlescinema.com/seasons-events/tarkovsky/ https://princecharlescinema.com/film/6773592/the-colour-of-pomegranates-sayat-nova/ https://princecharlescinema.com/film/20569368/the-cranes-are-flying/ https://princecharlescinema.com/film/1865782/battleship-potemkin-bronenosets-potyomkin/ https://princecharlescinema.com/whats-on/ Hugo Max scores silent cinema https://hugomax.co.uk/news https://hugomax.co.uk/upcoming-past-performances Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Come and See (Elem Klimov; 1985) 40th anniversary and Antifa on Screen season at the UPP in Oxford (00:06:06)
Host Ally Pitts highlights the 40th anniversary of Come and See, directed by Elem Klimov, shares news about a season of films on the theme of anti-fascism at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford, and brings attention to a couple of other anti-fascist/anti-totalitarian/anti-cult of personality films. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Antifa on screen at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/ Klassiki For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. Ally’s Klassiki recommendations Come and See & Elem Klimov https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episodes/come-and-see-elem-klimov-1985-41611107 https://uppcinema.com/show/come-and-see/ https://letterboxd.com/thetop100/list/the-greatest-films-ever-made-as-selected/ https://www.criterion.com/films/28895-come-and-see https://princecharlescinema.com/whats-on/ The Cremator & Juraj Herz https://uppcinema.com/show/the-cremator/ Sun 11th and Mon 12th MAY https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/ https://www.secondrundvd.com/release_cremator_bd.html https://klassiki.online/caught-by-the-night-gothic-visions-juraj-herz-podcast/ The Great Dictator, Charlie Chaplin, Pamela Hutchinson, and Eccentricism in Leningrad https://uppcinema.com/show/the-great-dictator/ https://pamhutch.wordpress.com/in-person/ https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/10-great-films-1925 Includes The Gold Rush and Battleship Potemkin https://klassiki.online/ian-christie-eccentrism-soviet-avant-garde-podcast/ Ordinary Fascism & Mikhail Romm https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/film/triumph-over-violence/ Repentance & Tengiz Abuladze https://letterboxd.com/film/repentance/ https://films.klassiki.online/repentance Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- WORLD SHAKESPEARE DAY BONUS: Boris Pasternak, Grand Theft Hamlet, Andrei Tarkovsky, Richard. E. Grant, the 'other' Stratford, and the Bard (00:11:56)
Host Ally Pitts discusses the 2024 documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, directed by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, shares how Hamlet became his favourite Shakespeare play, and explores its connection to and influence on two of Russian culture's most famous figures, Boris Pasternak and Andrei Tarkovsky. And he talks about Withnail and I. Again. Not necessarily in that order. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: mubi.com/russiansovietpod mubi.com/en/gb/films/grand-theft-hamlet letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-mubi-recommendations-updated-regularly/ letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-genre-recommendations-documentary/detail/ podchaser.com/podcasts/gentlemen-dont-get-caught-1554501 podchaser.com/podcasts/mubi-podcast-1906950/episodes/grand-theft-hamlet-how-shakesp-243200018 miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk/under-the-grid-podcast/ podchaser.com/podcasts/under-the-grid-2346988/episodes/stony-stratford-159334015 dangerclosepod.com/doctor-zhivago dangerclosepod.com/articles/surplusordnance-episode-24 flixwise.com/2018/08/19/flixwise-canada-ep-22-withnail-and-i/ mkpulse.co.uk/withnail-i/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- INTERVIEW: Matthew Chadourne of the Oxford Comedy Festival (00:47:30)
Matthew Chadourne, stand-up comedian, executive producer and creative director of the Oxford Comedy Festival, and co-host of the Saint Misbehavin' podcast joins host Ally Pitts to talk about his various comedy and movie-related projects. This is designed to serve as an appetizer for an upcoming episode on Grigory Chukrai’s Ballad of a Soldier with Matthew as the guest, which will be released on this feed as soon as it's edited. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/our-acts https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/shows https://qedcomedylab.co.uk/saintmisbehavinpod https://www.secondrundvd.com/index.html https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/magdalen-monday-movies/ All the Best Lines Ninotchka episode with Ally as the guest Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- FEED TAKEOVER: Flow (Gints Zilbalodis; 2024) with Kristaps Andrejsons of The Eastern Border (00:21:05)
To celebrate the Latvian film Flow winning the best animation category at the 2025 Oscars, Ally Pitts introduces an episode from previous guest Kristaps Andrejsons, which was originally published on his show, The Eastern Border. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episodes/state-funeral-sergei-loznitsa-91766026 https://theeasternborder.lv/about https://uppcinema.com/show/flow/ https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/flow-u https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/13080/flow Milton Keynes Gallery: https://mkgallery.org/event/the-4-30-club-away-u/ https://mkgallery.org/event/flow-u/ https://mkgallery.org/event/away-u/ https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/flow/ Not technically an indie cinema, but still, this interview Picturehouse cinemas did with Gints Zilbalodis is worth a read. https://www.picturehouses.com/blog/the-movies-me-gints-zilbalodis Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Kinoteka Polish Film Festival 2025 (00:06:12)
In your home and maybe in your town? Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme https://www.instagram.com/gulpfictionbooks/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-10-favourite-polish-films/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/ https://www.secondrundvd.com/index.html Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Soviet Silent Comedies at Slapstick Festival 2025 in Bristol PLUS podcast recommendations (00:03:58)
Host Ally Pitts highlights several Soviet silent comedy films screening at Slapstick Festival 2025 in Bristol, UK, and makes some podcast recommendations. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://slapstick.org.uk/slapstick-festival-2025/ https://pamhutch.wordpress.com/about/ Pamela Hutchinson's podcast appearances https://www.annabogutskaya.com/ https://gulpfictionbooks.com/ Streaming service free trials: For a 30-day free trial of Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. For a 30-day free trial of MUBI: https://mubi.com/russiansovietpod Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- 2024 highlights & 2025 plans (00:09:43)
Host Ally Pitts looks back at some highlights of 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. Note from Ally: Unfortunately, the audio for this episode is not up to the usual standard due to a mistake on my part. On balance I thought it was better to release it now as is rather than defer a week until I'd have time to re-record. Thanks for understanding, and please excuse the sound being a little rougher than I'd like on this occasion. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Support the show and Ally's other movie-related projects at ko-fi.com Issue 48 of Film Stories magazine, featuring Ally's article on The Point in Milton Keynes, the UK's first multiplex cinema/movie theater. Ally on The Top 100 podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov; 1929) Ally on The Pink Smoke podcast with Martin Kessler: The Queen of Spades (Thorold Dickinson; 1949) The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford's independent cinema The Fright Pub horror movie podcast Ally's notes on Lawrence of Arabia for the Danger Close war movie podcast https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-top-10-first-time-watches-of-2024/detail/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-top-5-re-watches-of-2024/detail/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-top-10-klassiki-watches-of-2024/detail/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-top-10-mubi-watches-of-2024/detail/ Streaming service free trials: For a 30-day free trial of Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. For a 30-day free trial of MUBI: https://mubi.com/russiansovietpod Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- INTERVIEW: Juliet Merchant, film composer & musician (01:23:39)
Composer and musician Juliet Merchant joins host Ally Pitts to discuss some of the silent films she has written scores for. At the time of recording, six of the films Juliet has composed scores for are available on the streaming service Klassiki, which is available in the UK, the US, and the Republic of Ireland. Here’s a link to a 30-day free trial: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. The films are: Aelita: Queen of Mars (Yakov Protazanov; 1924) The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr West in the Land of the Bolsheviks (Lev Kuleshov; 1924) Girl with the Hatbox (Boris Barnet; 1927) House on a Volcano (Hamo Bek-Nazaryan; 1929) Love's Berries (Oleksandr Dovzhenko; 1926) A Life for a Life (Yevgeny Bauer; 1916) Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: julietmerchantmusic.com/ The Golden Silent Films podcast HippCast: The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival podcast Ally Pitts on Media-eval: a medieval pop-culture podcast with Dr Sarah Ifft-Decker: The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Theodor Dreyer; 1928) Ally Pitts on The Top 100 podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov; 1929) Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/films/reviews/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/enjoy-the-silents-my-silent-film-recommendations/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Two Soviet silent film screenings in Nov '24 (00:06:27)
Ally Pitts announces a screening of Lev Kuleshov’s By the Law; 3pm on Sunday 24th November '24 at the Barbican Cinema, and a screening of Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe in Lancashire on at 7.15pm on Saturday 30th November '24. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/event/silent-film-live-music-by-the-law https://www.northernsilents.com/whats-on/battleship-potemkin-morecambe https://www.northernsilents.com/silents-by-the-sea Ally Pitts on The Top 100 podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov; 1929) Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/films/reviews/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/enjoy-the-silents-my-silent-film-recommendations/ https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- 100 years of Aelita: Queen of Mars (Yakov Protazanov; 1924) [classic episode re-release with new intro, outro and music] (01:19:38)
Classic episode re-release, featuring music by composer Juliet Merchant. In this episode, originally released in August 2018, Sarah Roberts, artist and podcaster, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this early Soviet silent sci-fi adventure. SPOILERS from about 16 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: discussion of the film's depiction of abusive relationships and violence against women. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Art by guest Sarah Roberts: https://sarahkathleenroberts.com/ Composer Juliet Merchant's live performance dates: julietmerchantmusic.com/ Ally Pitts on The Top 100 podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov; 1929) Ally Pitts on Media-Eval: A Medieval Pod Culture Podcast with Dr. Sarah Ifft-Decker Ally's silent film recommendations on Letterboxd klassiki.online/yuliya-solntseva-hidden-history-soviet-queen-of-film/ klassiki.online/podcast/ For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/eye-of-the-storm www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/start-here-modernism-in-ukraine slaviclitpod.com/aelita-1924-by-protazanov/ theukrainianmuseum.org/alexandra-exter-the-stage-is-a-world/ Aelita screening 9th November 2024 @ St. Hilda's College, Oxford, UK with live performance by Juliet Merchant Aelita screening 20th October 2024 @ the Fine Arts Building, Chicago Didn't mention this in the episode, but we should have: it's Silent Movie Day 2024 on 29th September. Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- Alexandra Exter, Aelita, and Modernist Art in Ukraine 1900-1930 (00:07:44)
Host Ally Pitts shares news about two exhibitions running in 2024 that feature the work of artist Alexandra Exter. He also discusses a previous film covered on the podcast, Aelita, which she worked on as a costume designer and set decorator. The Royal Academy of Art's exhibition is In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine from 1900 to the 1930s. That's in London and runs until 13th October 2024 The Ukrainian Museum's exhibition is Alexandra Exter: The Stage is a World. That's in New York City and is running from 27th September 2024 until 19 January 2025 Links mentioned in the episode: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/eye-of-the-storm https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/start-here-modernism-in-ukraine Art by previous guest Sarah Roberts:https://sarahkathleenroberts.com/ https://slaviclitpod.com/aelita-1924-by-protazanov/ https://www.theukrainianmuseum.org/alexandra-exter-the-stage-is-a-world/ https://klassiki.online/yuliya-solntseva-hidden-history-soviet-queen-of-film/ https://klassiki.online/podcast/ For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Béla Tarr & Tarkovskian echoes (00:07:27)
Host Ally Pitts shares news about the BFI's Béla Tarr retrospective season Will Heaven Fall Upon Us? Ally's local, the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford is one of the participating UK cinemas. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Béla Tarr retrospective Season at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast/ The Top 100 podcast with Tim Coleman Peter Bradshaw's interview with Béla Tarr for the Guardian https://www.criterion.com/films/33388-werckmeister-harmonies The British Film Institute's Béla Tarr retrospective season Ally's Klassiki recommendations on Letterboxd Damnation blu-ray from Arbelos Calvert Journal article on Béla Tarr by Carmen Gray Some UK independent cinemas taking part in the Béla Tarr retrospective: https://tynesidecinema.co.uk/film-seasons/bela-tarr-retrospective/ https://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/belatarrcollection https://www.riocinema.org.uk/movie/will-heaven-fall-upon-us All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast Contact us/socials: We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- Nostalgia AKA Nostalghia (Andrei Tarkovsky; 1983) (01:25:03)
International(?) man of mystery Lyn Seren joins Ally Pitts to discuss Andrei Tarkovsky's penultimate film. We also talk about rückenfigurs and Milton Keynes artists Boyd & Evans a bit! Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: International Association for Suicide Prevention’s directory: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ UK: https://www.samaritans.org/ US: https://988lifeline.org/ All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. Milton Keynes-based artists Boyd & Evans: https://www.boydandevans.com/ British-Russian comedian Olga Koch: https://www.rocknrolga.com/ Oxford Comedy Festival: https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ Contact us/socials: We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @RussophilesU Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWS: Man with a Movie Camera, 60 years of Mikhail Kalatozov’s I am Cuba, and Oxford Meet-ups (00:04:23)
Links mentioned in the episode: The Top 100 Podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera episode with Ally Pitts. Saint Audio Podcast Festival line-up Saint Audio Podcast Festival announcement episode. I am Cuba, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, screening at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. At the time of recording, Salt for Svanetia is available to stream on Klassiki, which is available in the UK, the US, and the Republic of Ireland. If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. Jean-Pierre Melville episode of Shoot the Piano Player: A French New Wave Podcast with Spencer Seams & Joel Torres. Criterion release of I am Cuba, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov. Contact us/socials: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are a bit of a mishmash). Email: russiansovietmoviepod@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @Russophiles Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- EVENT: The Saint Audio Podcast Festival, 23-26 May '24 in Oxford, UK! (00:03:12)
Saint Audio Podcast Festival is happening over the late May Bank Holiday Weekend (that's 23-26 May), in Oxford, UK! See you there, maybe? Links mentioned in the episode: Saintaudiopodcastfestival.com Screening of Spice World (1997) at the Ultimate Picture Palace, presented by The Flop House podcast. Contact us/socials: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are a bit of a mishmash). Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Twitter (or 'X', if you really insist): @Russophiles Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- FEED TAKEOVER: Ally guests on Projection Booth episode on Amphibian Man (Vladimir Chebotaryov, Gennadi Kazansky; 1961) (01:46:10)
Ally Pitts introduces an episode of The Projection Booth he guested on in 2022. Links mentioned in the episode: Listen to the rest of Ally's guest appearances on The Projection Booth. Contact us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are staying the same for now). Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ The platform formerly known as Twitter: @RussophilesU Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Alissa Timoshkina in conversation with Catriona Kelly on Russian Food Since 1800 (00:02:39)
Professor Catriona Kelly will be discussing her new book Russian Food Since 1800: Empire at Table with previous guest on this show, Alissa Timoshkina at Pushkin House in London on Friday 15th March 2024. It's an in-person & online hybrid event, which will from 6.30 to 8.00 pm GMT. Find out more about the event and buy tickets at pushkinhouse.org Our episode on Little Vera (dir. Vasily Pichul; 1988). Contact us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are staying the same for now). Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ The platform formerly known as Twitter: @RussophilesU Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- Ally's top 5 first-time watches of 2023 (00:11:03)
In the spirit of High Fidelity, Ally Pitts brings you an audio listicle of some awesome movies he saw for the first time in 2023. They are, in the order they appear on the episode: - Conscience (Volodymr Denisenko; 1968) - Fright Night (Tom Holland; 1985) - Chameleon Street (Wendell B. Harris Jr; 1989) - The Queen of Spades (Thorold Dickinson;1949) - The Afterlight (Charlie Shackleton; 2021) Honourable mentions to: The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko; 1977) Links mentioned in the episode: - Ally's Letterboxd page - Get a 30-day free trial of MUBI - Ally's MUBI recommendations - Klassiki (there’s a free 7-day trial available via their website, and you can get 50% off an annual subscription, with the code RUPOD50) - The Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford - MK Horror's Facebook group Contact us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are staying the same for now). Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ The platform formerly known as Twitter: @RussophilesU Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- NEWSFLASH: Tchaikovsky’s Wife (Kirill Serebrennikov; 2023) in UK cinemas Jan-Mar ’24 (00:04:51)
Links mentioned in the episode: Cinemas screening Tchaikovsky's Wife (UK and Republic of Ireland): sovereignfilms.co.uk/tchaikovskyswife The Guardian's Pjotr Sauer interviews Kirill Serebrennikov BBFC content advice for Tchaikovsky's Wife To receive a 50% discount on an annual subscription to Klassiki, please use the code RUPOD50 at checkout. Visit Klassiki.Online and sign up for a free trial! Contact us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are staying the same for now). Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ The platform formerly known as Twitter: @RussophilesU Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
- Some sad news (00:03:20)
Probably not the best place to start if you're arriving at this feed for the first time.