Earth

Earth is about death and transfiguration. A tale of generations, it begins with the death of a grandfather (Nikolai Nademsky - Zvenigora) in an orchard, surrounded by his family and loved ones. This peaceful death gives way to a tumultuous present for his son Opanas and grandson Vasily. Kulaks, a class of wealthy landowners, begin appropriating the land of unbounded farmers. Influenced by communism, Vasily leads a youth movement to form collectivized farming in Ukraine, coming in conflict with his rival Khoma. In its embrace of death as a process of change, Earth endows a spiritual vision on the end of a way of life. Since its release, Earth has remained Alexander Dovzhenko’s most famous work. The film’s overwhelming visual beauty and complex editing convey a sensual celebration of life. A vital influence on the films of Andrei Tarkovsky, Earth is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.