Ivan the...Interesting Film Character

Another interesting Socialist Realism piece, Ivan The Terrible, gives a new spin to what we in the class have come to know as social realism. The most interesting part of the film is the fact that in the Communist State of Russia, the Soviet Union, a popular and widely heralded film was about an individual who was in the position that the soviets had sought to overthrow. The interesting part is why the soviet audience could identify with someone like Ivan. Well,this seemed to be the case for a few reasons.the first, and most evident, was Ivan's struggle against the Bourgeois of his time, the Boyars. High class, in wealth only, noblemen, the disagree with Ivan's appointment from the very beginning because of his plan's to take away their wealth and power, and essentially give it back to the people. this is an obvious allusion to the Soviets goal of removing power from the wealthy and handing it over to the poor. The essential platform that made the soviets so powerful was their promise of liberation of the workers, which is what Ivan is essentially doing here in the film. The other, more moving scene, in my opinion, is when the riots in Moscow break out. The Tsar leaves, requesting that anyone who still wants his leadership and rule may follow him. Subsequently, what seems like everyone in Russia shows up on his door, asking for him back. As he signals to get the horses, we are left with this striking image of a powerful man ruling over his people, something Stalin must have drooled over the first time he saw it.