Formation of the Soviet Historical-Revolutionary Narrative in the 1930s: Analysis of M. I. Romm's Film «Lenin in October»
Abstract
The article analyzes the creation process of M.I. Romm's film "Lenin in October" (1937) in the context of the formation of the Soviet historical-revolutionary narrative in the 1930s. Based on archival materials and memoirs of the film's authors, the evolution of the script, the representation of key characters (V.I. Lenin, I.V. Stalin, enemies of the revolution), and political forces (Bolsheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, Mensheviks) is reconstructed. Special attention is paid to the influence of ideological guidelines and access to historical sources on the construction of the narrative. The film illustrates the transition from the collective history of the party to a heroic narrative. The study reveals the mechanisms of mythologization of the October Revolution, including the simplification of the event chronology, the minimization of the opposition's role, and the emphasis on the unity of the leaders (V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin) as symbolic heroes.