Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 has significantly changed the course of Russian cultural history. Breaking with the past, rejecting most traditional models, the young Soviet culture “searched” for the new non-traditional forms of self-expression. As the newest art form, film became one of the most beloved media of the new Soviet culture. Vladimir Lenin called it “the most important tool of contemporary political propaganda.” Due to the very early politization of the Soviet culture, the film industry became the clearest reflection and record keeper of major political twists in Soviet history as well as everyday life. In this course an attempt will be made to follow the major developments in Russia/Soviet Union through the eyes of the movie producers who acted as allies as well as critics of the Soviet government (for which their productions were abounded). The focus of the course will be on the examination of major episodes of Russian/Soviet past and their impact on present cultural development in Russia. Mythology of Russian Revolution and the Civil War, Soviet everyday life and the (ab)use of history to create usable past during the revolutionary years, Stalinism, after Stalin and at the end of Soviet era. Films that are selected for the discussions present major segments of cultural history in Russia.