Children of the Revolution: A Weird, Stiff Lesson in History

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are a total nerd for obscure Soviet-era propaganda or you just have a weird thing for vintage political cinema. If you want a fun Friday night flick, look somewhere else. People who hate being lectured by their screen will probably find this thing insufferable from minute one. 🚩

The whole premise is about kids getting roped into the fight against the kulaks. It’s heavy, it’s intense, and it doesn't leave much room for actual character growth. The kids are essentially just little ideological puppets.

I found myself staring at the background textures more than the actual dialogue. The sets have this weird, dusty quality—like you can practically smell the hay and damp wool through the monitor. Some of the framing is actually decent, though. There’s a shot near the middle where a group of kids stands in front of a grain silo that felt strangely menacing.

Then the dialogue happens. It’s all very formal and stiff, like someone read a pamphlet out loud while standing on a stage. You can tell they were trying to make these kids sound like little revolutionaries, but it just comes off as… unnatural? Like they’re reciting math tables instead of talking to each other.

I couldn't help but compare the pacing to something like The Mystery of the Rocks of Kador. That film actually lets a scene breathe before smashing you over the head with the point. Here? No way. They are moving full steam ahead toward the next propaganda beat. It’s exhausting.

Small, weird moments:

• There’s a scene with a chicken that goes on way too long. I think it was supposed to represent chaos, but I just felt bad for the bird.
• The lighting in the barn scene is bizarrely dramatic. Why is there a spotlight on a pitchfork?
• The actors playing the children seem to be trying their hardest, but you can see them checking their marks every few seconds.

I kept thinking about Wolves of the City while watching the tension build. Both films deal with social pressures, but one feels like a story and the other feels like a mandatory school assembly. You can really feel the movie trying to convince you that this is the most important thing you’ve ever watched.

It’s not a complete waste of time if you’re into the history of how film was used to mold minds. But don't expect to feel 'moved' or 'challenged' in a traditional sense. It’s a relic. An interesting, dusty, sometimes boring relic.

If you watch it, pay attention to the silence. There’s a lot of it, and sometimes it’s the most honest part of the film. 🤫