Unter den Menschen

This is the 2nd instalment of the 'Gorky' trilogy, following 'The Childhood of Maxim Gorky', and finished with 'My Universities'. It follows Alexei as he attempts to find his way as a young worker. Throughout the film he continually becomes disenchanted by the exploitation he witnesses and experiences. While there is an obvious Marxist perspective here, this is not at all heavy-handed like many Soviet films of this era. Indeed the characters and their struggles have a very universal quality that makes the film feel as though it could have just as easily been made anywhere in Europe, or indeed the US. The same goes for the overall quality of the production. The set design, cinematography, direction and performances are all very reminiscent of studio productions from Hollywood or France in the 1930s. The upshot is a film that is highly accessible to a non-Russian audience, while still maintaining some Soviet sensibilities. Enjoyable and interesting, without being groundbreaking.