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Forty Hearts

Name: Forty Hearts
Director: Lev Kuleshov
Released: 1931
Duration: 50 min

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

1931

Director

Lev Kuleshov

Runtime

50 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Forty Hearts celebrates Soviet industrialization and state-driven modernization. It prioritizes a collectivist worldview, presenting the construction of power stations as a monumental achievement for the working class. While the film lacks contemporary representation of LGBTQ+ or disability issues, it offers a unique cultural perspective. It challenges Western capitalist models in favor of centralized, state-led progress. The diversity in the film is reflected in its depiction of a multi-ethnic Soviet society united by a shared technological mission.

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Category Breakdown

Does Forty Hearts have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives related to sexual orientation.

How does Forty Hearts portray gender?

Fair

The film focuses on heavy industrialization and masculine-coded labor, with limited representation of feminine roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Forty Hearts?

Fair

It portrays a multi-ethnic Soviet society, emphasizing unity through large-scale industrial progress.

How does Forty Hearts represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film highlights secular modernism and collective progress, sidelining traditional religious structures.

Does Forty Hearts include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no depiction of individuals with disabilities, focusing instead on large-scale industrial achievements.

Present on Screen

Offers a strong cultural representation of anti-capitalist and collectivist ideals.
Highlights the multi-ethnic landscape of the Soviet Union during rapid industrialization.
Provides a unique historical perspective on state-driven secular modernism.

Limited or Absent

Does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives.
Lacks representation of individuals with disabilities.
Focuses primarily on masculine-coded industrial labor.

Official Synopsis

The new power stations are beating like hearts to the pulse of modernisation. At gigantic expense and effort, the Soviet Union is rapidly industrialised. The state plan foresees the construction of forty power-generation centres across the country. However, the people must first be enlightened about the nature and use of electrical current. Horses and tractors, households and industry, nature and the world of work, neon signs and the construction of power stations all depend on this miraculous new source of energy. The famous Soviet director Lev Kuleshov masterfully realises this project with documentary shots, acted scenes, and lots of creative trick sequences.

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