Friday 17 June 2005, 19.00
and Friday 26 August 2005, 19.00

Sergei Eisenstein, Russia/Mexico 1931/79, 85', subs, cert PG

Hollywood was never a natural home to Sergei Eisenstein, his producer Grigory Alexandrov and cameraman Eduard Tisse, and with several projects rejected, they took little persuading to follow Upton Sinclair south to create a film celebrating Mexican culture, history and its Revolution. The documentary, a hugely ambitious project ranging from the ancient Mayan civilisation and the Spanish invasion to the present day, ran out of funds and was abandoned. The unedited material remained in Sinclair’s hands in the United States, with Eisenstein recalled to Russia and Stalin’s disfavour. Alexandrov carefully assembled this version of ¡Que Viva Mexico! in 1979, and the result is one of the most beautiful documentaries ever made.

Tate Modern  Starr Auditorium
£4, booking recommended

    

This event is related to the Frida Kahlo exhibition