The 1925 Sergei Eisenstein classic was banned in the UK due to the fear that it might incite worker uprisings.
Strike is a bold and experimental piece of Soviet propaganda depicting a 1903 strike by workers at a pre-revolutionary factory. Triggered by their harsh working environment, which results in the death of a worker, a strike is called at a Moscow Factory. The owners and authorities react with brutality and attempt to infiltrate the movement.
Arranged in six parts, Strike marked the directorial debut of Sergei Eisenstein, who would go on to become one of cinema's most influential filmmakers. Like his later films such as Battleship Potemkin and October, Strike demonstrates Eisenstein's inventive approach to editing and montage.
Live Score: Strike will be soundtracked by a live improvised piano score, performed by Northern Silents artistic director Jonny Best.
About Northern Silents
Northern Silents bring silent‑era films back to the screen with brand new music, created by artists across traditions. Every performance is a meeting of past and present — the vision of filmmakers from a century ago joined with the creativity of musicians here and now. Together they create cinema as a living art form, reborn in performance.
Sheffield Film Festival 2026
Sheffield Film Festival is Showroom Cinema’s annual celebration of the city’s and the surrounding region’s film heritage, and wider film culture.
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Director Sergei Eisenstein
Year 1925
Duration
1h 40m
Cast Grigoriy Aleksandrov