Sion LRC: VCE 3 & 4 Revolutions

"Russian Revolution: Bolsheviks in Moscow. Red Guard. Guardia Roja * revolucion sovietica * bolcheviques * milicia * miliciana *" by rosaluxemburg is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

"Russian Imperial family - circa 1913 - Sa Hoàng Nicholas II, Hoàng đế cuối cùng của nước Nga (trị vì từ 1894 đến 1917)" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

• The Last Czars (TV 2019) Nexflix Series about Nicholas and Alexandra.  It is honestly terrible, but it is filled with historians but also historical reenactments.  Sort of has a Downton vibe, but might be worth taking notes as you watch

• Reds (Film 1981) wikipedia says “a 1981 American epic historical drama film, co-written, produced, and directed by Warren Beatty, about the life and career of John Reed, the journalist and writer who chronicled the Russian Revolution in his 1919 book Ten Days That Shook the World.”  Dated but good.

• Anastasia (Film 1997) do you just need to watch a Disney film?  This has limited historical relevance, but sometimes you need a cartoon musical in your life, and I will reference it at times!

• Dr. Zhivago (Film 1965) Stars Omar Sharif, Julie Christie and takes place during World War I, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the Russian Civil War.  It is a classic, and Omar is lovely to look at! (Also a terrible version made in 2002 exists, but no one expects you to watch that)

• Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (Film 1996)  I would (and do) describe this film as terrible. However Alan Rickman is oddly attractive, and it is a good reminder of some of the history you need to know.

• The Russian Ark (Film) This is not the film to watch when sleepy, Wikipedia describes it as "An experimental historical drama film", but it is filmed in one take inside the Winter Palace and depicts a nice cross section of some of the key events that took place there.  It’s astounding, and beautiful and very Russian.

THE HISTORY CHICKS

The Romanovs (Part 1)

(Documentary 2016) Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to tell the tale of the Last Russian Tsar.  A really great documentary that we would normally watch in transition so make sure you have seen it before next year.  Sadly Ms Worsley cannot pronounce Rs - so enjoy watching about the Wussian Wevolution.

The tragic story of Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia, set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. It is an inside look into the private lives of Nicholas and his wife Alexandra, their daughters, and the painful secret which bound the Imperial Couple to the mystical Rasputin,

A spellbinding mix of adventure, comedy, romance and music, this acclaimed animated spectacular tells the thrilling story of the lost Russian princess Anastasia and her quest to find her true identity. When the shadow of revolution falls across Russia, the royal family's youngest daughter barely escapes with her life. Years later, Anastasia and a band of heroic companions must battle the evil Rasputin, his sidekick Bartok the bat and a host of ghostly minions in a headlong race to reach Paris, reclaim her rightful destiny and solve the greatest mystery of the 20th century.

Based on the novel by George Orwell. Barnyard animals mount a revolution, oust their cruel farmer and turn the farm into a collective.

"Boston Massacre" by Marion Doss is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

"George Washington" by History Rewound is licensed under CC BY 2.0

• The Patriot - with Mel Gibson (2000) Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son. 

• Revolution (1985) A trapper and his young son get pulled into the American revolution early as unwilling participants and remain involved through to the end.

Not strictly about either revolution but depicts many of the events we will look at - and look they are just very relevant/necessary to your future being.

• 1984 (1949, George Orwell) This is a book you should read full stop.  George Orwell allegorises the revolutions he has experienced as a journalist and a citizen.  So it is about The Russian Revolution, The Rise of the Nazis, the Burmese Revolution, The Chinese Revolution and fascism generally both before and after WWII.  Not the easiest read, but a satisfying one.  His ‘fairy tale’ Animal Farm is about the same thing, but about animals and for kids!

• The Handmaid's Tale (2017-)Here is season one of a television show that I genuinely think any woman should watch.  It is based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, which was based on the novel 1984 by George Orwell, which is based on both the Russian and Chinese Revolutions.  I honestly think this is one of the best TV shows I have ever seen (although it does go downhill after the first season).  Relevant, will help you consolidate and I think this will put you in a revolutionary headspace! Also (and I never say this) I think the shows are better than the book. 

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