This is a place to share silent film news. So, um, here is some news about a silent film, that is really a sound film, or several sound films, or no film at all. But I think you want to hear about it.
Between 1930 and 1932, Sergei Eisenstein shot film, more than 30 hours of astonishing images, in Mexico, for an ambitious project he planned to call ¡Que Viva México! He never got the chance to turn that footage into a film – but many other people tried, in his lifetime and beyond. With vary degrees of success.
A new Blu-ray box set from Kino Lorber, curated by Bruce Posner, brings together new restorations of all the films that emerged from Eisenstein’s extended shoot in Mexico. Plus more material, which provides context and analysis.
“A first of its kind, SERGEI EISENSTEIN ¡MÉXICO! assembles newly restored versions of those films derived from Eisenstein’s legendary Mexican footage: Thunder Over Mexico (1933) and Death Day (1934) by Sol Lesser, Time in the Sun (1940) by Marie Seton, Bell & Howell’s four-volume Mexican Symphony by Willam F. Kruse and Egon Mauthner (1940-41), and the debut of Idols Behind Altars (2026), a diptych of Eisenstein’s raw footage conceived by Bruce Posner with a new score by Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky). This special two-disc collection also includes rare outtakes, photographs, sketches, and documentaries featuring historians and filmmakers who savor the brilliance of the Mexican footage, and discuss the challenges in representing a masterpiece which exists only in tantalizing fragments.”
It is, from what I have seen, a really remarkable piece of work. Take a look at the trailer.
- SERGEI EISENSTEIN ¡MÉXICO! is released by Kino Lorber on 24 November. Pre-orders ship only to US and Canada. The rest of us may need to wait until after its release to secure a delivery.
- I made a very small contribution to the booklet for this one, more of which later.
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