Eto v nashikh silakh

'It's in Our Power' was seen with mixed to relatively high expectations. It's from Soyuzmultfilm, a studio that did a lot of fantastic work and an animation studio that deserves to be known more internationally. It's also from Lev Atamatov, who was responsible for the definitive adaptation of 'The Snow Queen', an exquisite version 'The Scarlet Flower' and 'The Golden Antelope'. Was also a little unsure, as it's a form of short film that is not usually my cup of tea and were mostly done badly in this decade.

Badly done 'It's in Our Power' is not. It is a very strong contender for the best animated Soviet propaganda short film from the 70s, which is saying a lot seeing as most did not work at all. While it is not completely flawless, it pretty much escapes nearly all the traps that the others fell into badly. It's beautiful, stirring, powerful stuff that shouldn't be automatically dismissed for being the type of short film that is oft-maligned in animation. Not all propaganda short films are what they are typically generalised as, and 'It's in Our Power' is proof of that in my view.

Admittedly, it is very clear what its stance is on America and it for my liking was laid on a little too thickly. This has been done a lot worse elsewhere though.

The animation is absolutely wonderful. The backgrounds are beautifully designed and atmospheric and the way characters and such are designed is both elegant and expressive. The war-bird is especially effective. The music is stirring without being over-bearing, thank goodness too that it didn't try to sound too heroic which would have jarred or felt over-emphasised. There is even at points a gentle quality that is very fitting with what it's trying to convey.

Which is conveyed extremely well. It was refreshing to see a short film politically related handle its subject tactfully yet with enough force and tension to avoid it from being too safe. Of the Soviet animated political short films, 'It's in Our Power' is the only one to have a message and theme that is universal and will always be relevant and true. As well as one of the few to not feel thirty years out of date thanks to this sincerely handled and timeless theme. What's more, it doesn't hammer home its point, not preachy at all in expressing the point of war and violence not being justified, and it doesn't take sides other than its stance on America.

Did care for the characters involved in the action, the most memorable being the war-bird that provides the tension. Tension that is quite foreboding without being too dark.

Overall, wonderful and a relief to see a Soviet propaganda short film from this period that is halfway worth watching. 9/10.