Be they musicals or melodramas, war movies or animation, Russian films have a long and fascinating history of addressing the major social and political events of their time. From Sergei Eisenstein's anti-tsarist drama,The Battleship Potemkin, to socialist realism, to the post-glasnost thematic explosion, this volume explores the sociopolitical impact of the cinema of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Introductory essays establish key players and situate important genres within their cultural and industrial milieus, while reviews and case studies analyze individual titles in considerable depth. For the film studies scholar, or for all those who love Russian cinema and want to learn more,Directory of World Cinema: Russiawill be an essential companion.