Five Examples Of The Soviet Montage

Five Examples Of The Soviet Montage

What is the Soviet Montage?

A theory of a film movement that was created in Soviet Russia and it was between the decades of the 1910s, the 1920s, and to early 1930s. The author/ creator of the technique was a Russian individual named Lev Kulsehov and it is said from the Studiobinder's website, Kuleshov made this technique in filmmaking while he was working and teaching at the Moscow Film School. There are over five and different types of the Soviet Montage and the names are, Metric, Rhythmic, Tonal, Overtonal, and Intellectual, and this was a breakthrough in filmmaking changing the perspective of film editing globally. With the word and meaning of montage in the subject film, from the language of French is a term to show an engagement of different subjects in media. For example, whether it may be music, images, and of course film. With Lev Kuleshov being a professor at the Moscow Film School, he had an interest in being creative in investigating new authentic ways of filming editing back in 1920. His students who all would have participated along with Kuleshov in the aspect of editing, it wasn't long after that Kuelshov released a very famous short film and it is said also from the Studiobinder's website, that would go on to become the foundation of Soviet Montage Theory. (Heckmann, C.)

1. Intellectual Montage

Kuleshov, L. (1920)

From the short film by Kuleshov, the concept was to capture a single one shot of an individual and Kuleshov picked a popular actor back in the time named Ivan Mosjoukine, and capturing three other different shots and combining the one-shot of Mosjoukine to the three other different shots of different objects. Every three different shots and objects were to capture a different emotion from Mosjoukine's same facial expression and as you can see from the examples in the picture above. Kuleshov was credited with pioneering the evoking of emotion through contrasting images, therefore the technique became known as the Kuleshov effect. (Heckmann, C.). To this day, it is still used in our generation of cinema, and it's a tool in communication towards the audience and from the emotions of editing. 

2. Metric Montage

Eisentein, S. (1928)

The second example is the Metric Montage, an inspiration from a score from the pace, and from what I can tell from the example above, it's presenting a collection and very similar of shots to make them relate to one another. It also increases the tension resulting from the scene. (Burgess, A.) Finally, it uses a number of close-ups, and by them shorter and shorter, will create the tone a lot more intense.  

3. Rhythmic Montage

Chazelle, D. (2014)

The third example is the rhythmic montage, in Damian Chazelle's 2014 Oscar-winning film Whiplash, with a genre in music and the incredible editing the film has, it does a fantastic job at juggling the pace of the drama to the pace of the music from playing, with only those specific scenes, and it doesn't affect any of the scenes of the film in continuity. Also, Studiobinder's article on the example is mentioned, ultimately creates an engrossing continuity. (Heckmann, C.) 

4. Tonal Montage

Joon - Ho, B. (2019)

The tonal montage is known as a technique that actually has a completely different effect compared to the first example which is the Intellectual montage. This is a montage that will use multiple shots to show support for one or another to create a theme or even a mission in a  film. By using quick and fast-paced editing skills, making the audience feel excited whether it's a drama or a comedy. In Bong Joon Ho's 2019 best picture oscar winner, there is one scene where the family discusses to plan of how each of them is going to try and getting into working for a rich family at their deluxe house. Whilst, on the other side we see them already working for the family and how they can progress to work on their plan of making a living as a poor family to living as a rich family for a change. As the name implies, the Tonal Montage helps to establish the tone of a scene through editing shots together that have the same thematic aim. (Heckmann, C.) Tone or mood is used as a guideline for interpreting tonal montage, and although the theory begins to sound intellectual, it is no different from Ingmar Bergman’s suggestion that editing is akin to music, the playing of the emotions. (Burgess, A.)

5. Overtonal Montage

DePalma, B. (1987)

 It is said in Burgess's article, that the overtonal montage Is the interplay between of metric, rhythmic and tonal montages. (Burgess, A.) Which the overtonal montage focuses on the mixture of pace, concepts, feelings, reactions, and emotions from the characters in the scene of the film. In Brain DePalma's 1987 crime, drama, film starring Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery, and Robert DeNiro, there is a very famous and nostalgic scene when Costner's character is trying to shoot some of Capone's men, while a baby in a pram is going down the stairs, being in the middle of a gunfight and in a very sticky and intense situation for Costner's character. The picture above shows the mixture of the pace, music, and character's reactions based on the very difficult and dangerous situation. 

Bibliography

1.] Kiraz, R. (2020) Studiobinder At: https://www.studiobinder.com/ (Accessed 15/12/20)

2.] Heckman, C (2020) 'Studiobinder' In: Soviet Montage Theory - Definition, Examples and Types of Montage At: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/soviet-montage-theory/ (Accessed 15/12/20)

3.] Mullenweg Charles, M. (2003) WordPress At: https://wordpress.com/sites (Accessed 15/12/20) 

4.] Burgess, A (2011) 'WordPress' In: Tag Archives: Metric Montage At: https://andrewburgess.wordpress.com/tag/metric-montage/#:~:text=Refers%20to%20the%20length%20of,tension%20resulting%20from%20the%20scene. (Accessed 15/12/20) 

5.] Kureslov, L. (1923) kuelshov- effect. png Tremoglie, C.  NYC Jordan Center 

6.] Einstein, S. (1928) Metric Montage - Eisenstein's October. jpg Fighter, W Blogger 

7.] Chazelle, D. (2014) best - jazz - movie - scores. jpg Bagdons, K. Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie List 

8.] Joon Ho, B. (2019) parasite - montage - videoessay. jpg Anderton, E. Film 

9.] DePalma, B (1987) 303598. jpg Lambie, R. Den of Geek