RABA LYUBVI (THE SLAVE OF LOVE)
USSR, 1976, 99 minutes, Colour.
Yelena Solovey, Rodion Nahapetov.
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov.
A Slave of Love is a film about the silent cinema in Russia. However, it is also a film about white Russians and the communists and their clashes.
The film focuses on a glamorous silent screen star, whose films are sought out by underground revolutionaries in order to see them and admire them. While she is on location near the Black Sea, she is involved in an affair with the cameraman – however, he is undercover filming alleged white atrocities while waiting for the Red Army to advance.
The film reflects communist thinking and propaganda of the period.
However, it was written and directed by one of Russia’s major directors, Nikita Mikhalkov (and co-written by his brother Andrei Konchalovsky). Mikhalkov became a celebrated figure in Russia after the fall of communism and made many fine films including the autobiographical Burnt By The Sun. His brother, Andrei Konchalovsy, moved to the United States and made a number of films in the 80s and 90s there – returning to Russia and making films in Russia as well as in the United States.
The film was praised for its sense of atmosphere, location, and its perspective on the revolution as well as on Russian cinema.
The Slave of Love achieved great popularity in the United States in 1978 and then in other parts of the English-speaking world. The film is an accessible Russian feature and has many aspects of charm, comedy as well as its social message? Very strongly adhering to the Russian party line, it shows the frivolity of the way of life in Czarist Russia and shows a change of heart in the leading lady in her involvement in revolutionary activity and in her being victimised at the end. The film is strong in its performances but has special attraction in its portrayal of the early Russian film industry and its'detail. There is much humour and social observation here. The counterpoint of the use Slave of Love of film for recording the ugly events and the use for propaganda is also strongly presented. The film is interesting, entertaining and a useful example of the techniques and content of Russian films of the seventies.
1. The tone of the title, its meaning? Reference to the film being shown? To Olga herself? Indication of themes?
2. The quality of the Russian production? Colour, atmosphere, locations, the Russia of the provinces in the early 20th century? The film's attention to period, decor, costumes? The focus on Russian films and the film industry? Its impact throughout the towns? The use of film for entertainment, for propaganda, for revolution? For recording brutal facts? The contrast between entertainment and documentary? The attention to film techniques and filmmaking? The linking of film to the revolution?
3. The Russian view of the Czarist period and the Revolution? The attention to detail in life under the Czars, as symbolised by the film's being made? Wealth, idleness, an ambiguous attitude toward problems, ignoring them? The revolutionaries and their cause? Fedotov and his cruelty, the Czarist police, the prologue with the film being shown and audiences laughing and crying and the sudden eruption of the soldiers, their brutality and arrests? The film's emphasis on the brutality of the Czarist regime? Olga's curse at the end and her appeal to the judgment of history?
4. The detail of the film world and its frivolity? Sets, styles, techniques of silent filmmaking? Locations? Personalities and the various clashes and conflicts? Directorp producer and their personalities, persuasion, budgets, timetables? The role of the piano player? Actors and actresses? Technical assistance? How well did the film show the interplay between all these characters? Echoing the type of film being made? The importance of finishing the film?
5. Olga and her place within this atmosphere? As a famous actress, on all the posters, her frivolous attitude, her moods, her being pampered? The sequences with her mother, her children? The memories of her husband and his death? How well did the film show the growing attraction towards Viktor? Its turning into tenderness and love? How did she change with her experience of Viktor's attention? The authenticity of the scenes between them, their conversations and expressions of love? The sequence at the cafe and the transition to Viktor's death? The repercussions of his death and her presence at the revolutionary films? Her being affected by the films, stunned by Viktor's death? Her reaction in not wanting to finish the film, her going to the set, her shooting the blanks at Fedotov? Her attacking the seeming traitor? The attack on the film set, her giving of the film to the revolutionaries, her rescue and being put on the tram? Her becoming a revolutionary and realizing this? The impact of her being on the runaway tram and the Czarist soldiers pursuing her? 6. Viktor as hero? His work with films, his political connections, a pleasant character and attracted towards Olga? The love between the two? The importance of his political involvement and the brutality of his death? The cause of such men? The impact on ordinary citizens like Olga?
7. The film's presentation of Fedatov and his brutality? The arrests, the executions? The presence on the film set and the attack, Fedotoy hiding in the water, his death? The tram driver and the Czarist soldiers pursuing the tram? Did this explain the Revolution and its background?
8. A glimpse at a small section of Russian society at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution? A microcosm for what was happening in Russia? How credible were the people and the way of life, involvement? The issues?
9. The impact at the end of the film with audiences watching Olga, experiencing her change, her in love and involvement? Her being pursued as victim, symbolizing the Russian people?
