Typology of the Representation of Moscow in Soviet Cinema

Soviet cinema depicted Moscow as a dynamic palimpsest, where industrial modernity overwrote traditional imagery, creating a utopian vision of the capital. The study reveals that Moscow's representation shifted from a sacred, ceremonial verticality to a human, lyrical horizontality, symbolizing progress and labor achievements. Transport in these films often transcended its functional role, embodying freedom and unity. However, this romanticized image faded by the 1980s-90s as filmmakers reevaluated societal narratives. The research analyzes Soviet cinema's architectural and symbolic messaging through a dual lens of vertical (ceremonial) and horizontal (lyrical) representations, offering insights into how urban imagery reflected ideological shifts during the Soviet era.

Vinogradov, V. V. (2024). Typology of the Representation of Moscow in Soviet Cinema. Vestnik VGIK, 15(1(55)), 36–56. https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2023-55-1-36-56