For centuries invaders have coveted the treasures of Ukraine which have been guarded by Grandfather. This mysterious treasure remains hidden at Mount Zvenigora eluding the often violent search conducted by Poles, Cossacks and Germans over the centuries. In the turbulent years of the twentieth century, the treasure is sought by his descendants in the hope of recovering a past in danger of being lost.

A “cinematographic poem”, Zvenigora moves from past to present, combining reality with fantasy. It conveys the spirit of Ukrainian history from its transition from an agricultural society to the modern world of industrialization and its discontents. Dovzhenko's initial film in his "Ukraine Trilogy" (along with Arsenal and Earth) is almost religious in its tone and is one of the most remarkable avante-garde films of an exuberantly experimental period. 

"This is intellectually Marxist, and yet montage is an incredibly exciting form of filmmaking. Now used by advertisers and Hollywood blockbusters, in the hands of Soviet filmmakers it was a revolutionary cinematic experience" - Socialist Review

Cast & Credits: Georgi Astafyev / Nikolai Nademsky / Vladimir Uralsky / Les Podorozhnij / Semyon Svashenko / Directed by Alexander Dovzhenko

Technical: 1929 / 91 minutes / Silent Russian with English subtitles / Mono audio (orchestral score) / 1.33 : 1 Black & White / DVD PAL Multi Region / MRBDVD035

Licensed from Mosfilm.