Dekabryukhov i Oktyabryukhov: Mayakovsky's Revolutionary Love Triangle

This one, Dekabryukhov i Oktyabryukhov, is definitely a niche watch for today. If you're into early Soviet cinema, or maybe a big fan of Vladimir Mayakovsky's unique creative energy, then yeah, give it a shot.

It's not for folks looking for a tight, modern narrative, or anyone who can't handle a silent film with some pretty heavy-handed symbolism. Expect a lot of quiet moments and a story that takes its time.

The film kicks off right in the middle of a rather opulent wedding for our character Dekabryukhov. Suddenly, boom, revolution! 💥 Machine gun fire just crashes the party, and he's forced to flee the country, leaving his new wife behind.

Meanwhile, Oktyabryukhov, the other main guy, sticks around and, well, adapts to the whole new world that's springing up.

What really gets you is the suddenness of that opening scene. One minute, it’s all fancy dresses and toasts, the next, it’s chaos. No slow build up here, the film just throws you into it. It kinda mirrors how quickly life can change when big history comes calling.

Dekabryukhov's journey abroad feels a bit like a blur, honestly. He's just gone, and you spend more time wondering what his wife is doing back home.

Oktyabryukhov, though, you see him trying to make sense of the new order, finding his place. There's a real contrast in their paths, one running away, the other running towards something.

Then, much later, Dekabryukhov actually comes back to his homeland. What does he find? His wife, yes, but she’s now married to Oktyabryukhov. Ouch. 😬 It’s a classic triangle, but one rooted in really intense political shifts, not just personal feelings.

The way he tries to leave again, but the new couple forces him to stay, that’s just... something else. Like, "Nope, you're part of this new equation now, buddy."

Mayakovsky's fingerprints are all over this thing, even with O. Iskander directing. You feel it in the bold strokes of the narrative, the way it uses characters as almost allegorical figures without getting too bogged down.

It's got that poetic urgency to it. He really does bring his "three-way love" theme to the screen in a way that feels quite tormenting, just as promised.

Some of the close-ups of the characters, especially when they're grappling with these big changes, really stick with you. A particular shot of Dekabryukhov’s face when he realizes his wife has moved on felt heavy. You can almost feel the weight of his past life collapsing right then.

The pacing is very much of its time, of course. Lots of lingering shots, a moment or two that goes on just long enough for you to really soak it in, or maybe get a little antsy.

But it lets the emotion, or lack thereof, really breathe. It’s not about quick cuts; it’s about staring at the new reality.

It’s less a story about individuals making choices and more about how society's choices force individuals into new roles. Dekabryukhov’s whole arc feels less like agency and more like being swept along.

And that final forced reconciliation? It’s not exactly a heartwarming hug, you know? It’s more like, "we're all stuck here now." A strange kind of peace, almost. 🤷‍♀️

So, yeah, Dekabryukhov i Oktyabryukhov is certainly not for everyone. But if you appreciate cinema as a window into a specific historical moment and a poet's mind, it offers a lot to chew on.

Just don't expect a typical love story, or a typical anything, really.