The Eisenstein Reader

Rating:
Summary: Eisenstein In His Own Words
Review: This book is a compilation of what Richard Taylor considers to be Eisenstiein's most important and relevant writing, not only on film but also on Russian history, politics, and Eisenstein's eclectic influences. While I think the book is very well put together, Eisenstein's writing itself can be esoteric and hard for the reader to decipher. However, if you can get past Eisenstein's puzzling language, you can glean a great deal of valuable insight into the work of a man who has been called one of the most influential directors of all time. I was most interested in Eisenstein's writings on other art forms that informed his film making, particularly Kabuki theatre and Japanese Haiku. However, if this is your first time reading about Soviet cinema, I would recommend starting with some of Taylor's other works such as The Film Factory or Inside the Film Factory.