Lecture 'Pushkin and Eisenstein'

Naum Kleiman argues that both Pushkin and Eisenstein never cease to surprise us with their unexpected discoveries—making us wonder how we could not have noticed this earlier. Every new era brings fresh understanding of their work. Returning to Pushkin and approaching him objectively is necessary. Did you know that Pushkin was the main inspiration for the famous director Sergey Eisenstein? In a lecture by film scholar Naum Kleiman, the links between the great poet’s works and the shots of the renowned director will be revealed—as well as which of Pushkin’s heroes gained screen life thanks to Eisenstein. This won’t be just a lecture about Pushkin, but an introduction to the wisdom of one of Russia’s leading film historians. Those who have at least once listened to Kleiman note his kindness and his sensitive attitude toward listeners. His knowledge helps you see the world anew—with greater sensitivity. Interacting with such a person enriches your inner world and teaches you to notice beauty and meaning in everyday life.

At the lecture dedicated to two outstanding figures of Russian culture, we’ll learn: why Eisenstein considered Pushkin “cinematic” and what that means; what assumptions the author of “Eugene Onegin” made and why he changed them; what Eisenstein’s film about Pushkin was supposed to be and why it was never made; and how one can create a film about Pushkin today in Eisenstein’s style. Naum Kleiman is a film scholar and film historian who founded and led the Moscow Film Museum, specializing in the biography and work of Sergey Eisenstein.