Battleship Potemkin was revolutionary in many senses, but the most memorable and fascinating part is arguably the Odessa Steps. While it is a marvel from the technical point of view, the sequence also criticizes war and its cruelty, particularly towards the innocent. However, the message is enhanced through the montage, some aspects of each emphasize a particular element that makes one sympathize with the characters. This paper will analyze those peculiarities and how they influence the fragment’s perception.
What is curious about the Steps sequence is that it does not follow the conventions of editing. The 180-line rule is not always maintained, and with some shots, it is not clear where the action is happening. Only the steps connect the narration, but the sequence makes them appear almost endless, which may purposely disorient the viewer. A sense of everything happening either too fast or too slow is also present, such as the fall of the baby carriage, which would be accelerated in real life. Some differences in quality are also noticeable, particularly with close-up shots. Unlike other fragments, they feel more accentuated and clear, and the gun wounds those characters receive later are also emphasized. Overall, the breaks in the continuity help the director to convey the horrors of war.
The sequence has the infamous Cossacks, who appear to lack any human qualities. Their descent brings death and destruction to any person regardless of their gender or age. Unlike other characters who suffer from their actions, the Cossacks do not show their faces. Only their marching legs and rifles are observable, and those shots are constantly repeated, perhaps, to emphasize their absence of humanity and role as living weapons. It is much easier to sympathize with the troubled characters on what is assumed to be the lower steps whose emotions are vividly on display than the faceless human machines.
In conclusion, Eisenstein deliberately broke the developing cinema conventions to make the anti-war message as effective as possible. All the elements work to enhance it, including space, time, and even the quality of the shots. The way the characters are presented is also relevant, as the victims appear emotionally driven and worthy of empathy while the Cossacks seem deprived of anything that makes one a human.