Nas otvet papam rimskim is a weird, angry Soviet time capsule

You should probably watch this if you’re a history nerd or if you just like seeing how people used to make *propaganda* before everything got so polished. If you’re looking for a story or characters you can actually care about, you should probably skip it and watch something like Les deux gamines instead.

The movie is call Nas otvet papam rimskim. The title is a mouthful, but it basically means "Our Answer to the Popes."

Apparently, back in 1930, the Pope said some things the Soviet Union didn't like. So they made this movie to show how many bullets they could make.

It’s a very strange mix of animation and real life. One second you’re looking at a drawing that looks like it was done in a huge hurry, and the next you’re inside a massive factory.

The animation style is... well, it’s not Disney. It’s sharp and kind of mean-looking.

There are these cartoon figures that represent the enemies of the state. They look like weird, stiff puppets.

Then it cuts to the newsreel stuff. This is the part I actually liked.

You get to see real Soviet workers from nearly a hundred years ago. They look exhausted, but also very focused on what they’re doing.

There’s this one shot of a worker staring right at the camera. He doesn't smile or anything, he just looks like he wants to get back to his machine.

The factory scenes are full of smoke and sparks. It feels very loud even though the version I saw didn't have much sound.

You can almost smell the hot metal and the grease. It’s a very heavy feeling movie.

The whole point is to show off the Osoaviakhim. That was the big group that helped the military with planes and chemical stuff.

It’s basically a montage of things being built. Shells, guns, parts for tanks.

It’s much more intense than other movies from that time like One Hundred Years Ago. That one feels like a museum, but this one feels like a rally.

I noticed the way the film is scratched. It makes it look like it’s raining inside the buildings sometimes.

There’s a part where they show gas masks being tested. The masks look like creepy alien faces staring back at you.

The editing is very fast. It doesn't let you look at any one thing for too long.

It’s meant to make you feel the rhythm of the machines. Clang. Clang. Clang.

I wonder if the people watching this in 1930 felt inspired. To me, it just felt a bit overwhelming and very, very gray.

The animation bits show these big, looming figures over a map. It’s very dramatic for such a short film.

One specific moment stuck with me. A cartoon hand points directly at a factory chimney.

It’s so literal. It’s like the movie is poking you in the chest and telling you to get to work.

I think I saw a small dog running in the background of one factory shot. It was only there for a second before the camera panned away to a giant pile of metal.

The movie doesn't really have an ending. It just sort of stops when it’s done showing you the weapons.

It’s like a commercial that forgets to tell you where to buy the product. But I guess back then, everyone knew where to go.

It’s not exactly a fun watch. But it is a fascinating piece of history.

If you want to see what people were worried about in 1930, this is a good place to start. Just don't expect it to make you feel happy.

It’s a bit like watching an old, angry PowerPoint presentation. But with more molten metal and weird drawings.

I’m glad I saw it, but I don't think I’ll watch it again anytime soon. It’s a lot to take in for ten minutes.