Film Record: Russian Easter

Still from Russian Easter in Movie Makers, Jan. 1943, 10.

Date produced: 1942

Filmmaker(s):

George W. Serebrykoff

Languages:

English

Duration:

00:35:00

Length:

900 ft

Format:

16mm

Colour:

Kodachrome

Sound Notes:

Silent

Awards/Recognition:

Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award 1942, ACL Ten Best 1942 - General Class

Description:

"Russian Easter is a reverent and impressive film of the celebration of Easter in the Russian Orthodox Church and in the homes of Russians living in this country, all presented against the background of the birth of spring. Easter in the Russian Church is more closely associated with the coming of spring than it is in some other faiths, and the antiphonal cry, "Truly Christ is risen!" finds its response in leafing trees, budding flowers and virescent hillsides. Accordingly, this is a joyful film, filled with the gladness of Easter and of spring. The rich liturgy of the Easter season in the Russian Church is presented with intelligently planned sequences that span the time from the beginning of Lent to three days after Easter. Interwoven are sequences of home life, as the household prepares for the celebration and the feast at Easter. So, the picture actually consists of three themes — Easter in the church, Easter in a private home and the coming of spring, all interrelated by a masterly handling of film planning and editing. Outstanding scenes in this picture are the shots of Church of Alexander Nevsky in the winter snow, looking like a color print of old Russia, and the shots of the dinner, after Easter services, when family and guests eat the traditional Easter dishes. This latter sequence has particular grace and charm. Mr. Serebrykoff has made a sincere and delightful film that bolsters one's faith in the future of amateur movie making, for he has produced a brilliant picture that could be made only by an amateur in the full and accurate sense of the word — a film that would have been profaned by professionalism." Movie Makers, Dec. 1942, 489.

Resources:

Discussed by Serebrykoff in "Planning an Award Winner" (Movie Makers, Jan. 1943, 10-11, 25-26).

The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Monday, September 23, 1946, p.5.

The film was available in the ACL's Club Film Library.

Locations:

• New York City, New York (Filming)
• New Jersey (Filming)

Subjects:

• Seasons
•      Spring
• North America
•      United States
•           New York (State)
•               New York (N.Y.)

Genre:

• Documentary

Form:

• Short

Tags:

Screenings:

• Screened by the Bell Laboratories Club in 1943: Murray Hill, N.J.
• Screened by the Hartford Cinema Club in 1943: Hartford, CT
• Screened by the Metropolitan Motion Picture Club in 1943, 1945 and 1950: New York City, N.Y.
• Screened by the Kenosha Movie Makers Club in 1944: Kenosha, WI
• Screened by the Amateur Motion Picture Society of Albany in 1944: Albany, N.Y.
• Screened by the Passaic Cinema Club in 1944: Passaic, N.J.
• Screened by the Cinema Club of San Francisco in 1944: San Francisco, CA
• Screened by the Chicago Cinematographers in 1944: Chicago, IL
• Screened by the Indianapolis Amateur Movie Club in 1944: Indianapolis, IN
• Screened by the Utah Cine Arts Club in 1946: Salt Lake City, UT
• Screened by the 8mm. Movie Club of Rochester in 1951: Rochester, N.Y.
• Screened by the Easton Click-It Club in 1952: Easton, PA
• Screened by the Cine Club ICAL Milano in 1952: Milano, Italy

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