3 February 2014

One of the most attractive aspects of Soviet communism was that no matter what the background, all could unite under the Soviet regime if they just believe in this government. Circus is the ultimate propaganda film that brings this idea home. It cannot be mistaken with an ending such that this film gave. An “American” woman and her black child are perfectly accepted by the Soviets. They sing to him a lulliby and a variety of Soviet tongues. The Soviet Union: A place where everybody is welcome, the film seems to say. However, it was of course all owed to Stalin, as the parade at the very end lets us know.

The point of the film is clear. So clear, in fact, that another evident point emerges: the Soviet Regime is almost like a religion. Believe, and you shall receive. Mary, played by Lubova Orlova, was at first not very welcomed by the Russian theatre manager. He thought it was outrageous to pay foreigners. As she started to adopt more and more Russian ideals, Mary, Now Masha, gained more and more acceptance from the people around her. At the end, her prize was Martynov’s love; her prize was the man of her dreams. In, for example, the Christian religion if you are a good Christian, by following God’s commandments, then you receive what you ask for and give thanks to God. Masha was a good Soviet who received what she wanted, at the end, and then of course thanked Stalin for everything in the final parade.

And maybe this is just a coincidence, but Mary is a biblical name. The story of Mary and Joseph is one where they go door to door with baby Jesus, and they keep getting rejected until they finally find a safe haven. Similarly, Mary goes door to door, to countries, with her own son whose birth was as big of a surprise as that of Jesus from the Virgin Mary. She is from America and traveled with a German love interest. These different countries, America and Germany, were the doors that closed on her. The Soviet Union is her safe haven.

Although Circus is a very successful propaganda, it may have been so successful that it actually let its audience in on how exactly the Soviet Union does it. By imitating a religion and bringing it to life, the Soviets seemed to have gain popularity, especially after all the wars and revolutions where the people needed something to believe in.