Vertov's Enthusiasm: A Loud, Wild Ride into Soviet Industry

Okay, so Enthusiasm, or Symphony of the Donbass as some folks call it, is definitely not your average movie night pick. Like, at all. 🙅‍♀️ If you're a film student, a history buff curious about early Soviet propaganda, or just someone who loves really experimental, loud cinema, then absolutely, give it a shot. Otherwise? You might find yourself a little overwhelmed, probably reaching for the mute button. It’s a lot.

This film by Dziga Vertov, the guy behind _Man with a Movie Camera_, is less a story and more an _experience_. It’s from 1931, so it’s one of those early sound films. And Vertov, he wasn't just adding dialogue. Oh no. He was trying to make sound a whole new character.

The Sound of Industry

And boy, does he. The noise. 🤯 From the moment it starts, it's just this relentless assault of machinery. Clanging, grinding, whistles blowing, coal tumbling. It’s like Vertov cranked every single industrial sound up to eleven and then left it there for an hour.

There are these parts where you hear church bells, almost distorted, blending right into the factory din. It's jarring. Like old traditions getting swallowed by the new, industrial pulse. You can almost feel the air vibrating.

It gets _loud_. So loud, sometimes, you wonder if your speakers are blown. But that’s the point, I think. It’s not subtle. It’s a declaration. A symphony, really, but a very industrial one.

I remember this one sequence where the sound just builds and builds, a cacophony of workers' voices, machines, and what sounds like giant hammers. It’s not pleasant, exactly, but it is undeniably _powerful_. You don’t just watch it; you kind of get swallowed by it.

A Visual Rhythm

Visually, it’s all about the quick cuts. Very Vertov. One moment, a close-up of a miner’s face, covered in grime. The next, a huge gear turning, or coal spilling down a chute. It’s fast. Almost dizzying.

The camera doesn’t sit still. It tracks, it swoops, it gets right into the action. You see the sheer physical labor of these miners. The sweat, the strain. It’s incredibly raw.

There's a shot, I think it’s early on, of a worker's hands, all calloused and strong, handling some heavy tool. It's just a blink-and-you-miss-it detail, but it makes the whole thing feel so _real_.

You can tell Vertov was obsessed with movement. Everything is in motion. The machines, the people, even the shadows dance. It's a testament to human and mechanical energy.

The Propaganda Element

Now, this film is definitely propaganda for the Soviet Union’s Five Year Plan. No mistaking that. It’s all about the miners striving, pushing harder, exceeding quotas. It’s about building a new future, fast.

But it doesn't feel like dry, boring propaganda. It's energetic. Almost frantic. You get the sense that Vertov truly believed in this _enthusiasm_ for industry. He channels it into every frame, every sound.

There’s a part where they show these old, rundown churches being dismantled. Then, right after, images of new, modern structures rising up. It's a very clear message, you know? Old out, new in. Efficient.

The faces of the workers are key. No real characters, but a collective hero. You see their determination, their exhaustion. It's all very stoic, very purposeful. Like cogs in a giant, powerful machine. A good machine, in Vertov's eyes.

A Glimpse Behind the Curtain

What I found really neat, and a little meta, is when they show the actual sound recording equipment. Huge microphones, giant reels spinning. It’s a quick moment, but it’s like Vertov saying, “Look! We’re making this happen! We’re capturing this new world!” Very cool to see the tech of the time.

It’s easy to overlook, but that peek into the filmmaking process itself adds another layer. It reminds you that this isn't just a document of industry, but an _industrial product_ itself. Crafted with immense effort.

The film ends with this huge, celebratory crowd. Cheering, flags waving. After all the grinding noise, it’s supposed to feel triumphant. And it does, in a way, but also just... _more loud_.

Enthusiasm is an important piece of film history. It pushed boundaries. It's not an easy watch, by any stretch. But if you can handle the noise and the relentless pace, it offers a fascinating, almost overwhelming, look at a very specific time and a groundbreaking approach to cinema. It really makes you think about how we hear movies. And how loud life can be. 🔊