Wake Lena Up
Plot
Wake Lena Up follows the story of Lenochka, a perpetually tardy schoolgirl whose vivid imagination often gets her into trouble. While she sleeps, Lenochka dreams elaborate adventures involving cowboys and Indians, unaware that her mischievous brother is playing tricks on her sleeping form. Her concerned classmates devise an inventive plan to help reform their truant friend and ensure she arrives at school on time. The film blends Lenochka's fantastical dream sequences with the real-world comedy of her friends' increasingly creative attempts to wake her up. Through their efforts, Lenochka learns valuable lessons about responsibility and the importance of punctuality, all while maintaining the film's lighthearted, comedic tone.
Director
Antonina Kudryavtseva
About the Production
This was one of Antonina Kudryavtseva's rare directorial efforts during the early Soviet sound era. The film was produced during a transitional period in Soviet cinema when sound technology was still being perfected. The dream sequences featuring cowboys and Indians represented an interesting cultural borrowing from American Westerns, which were occasionally shown in limited Soviet contexts during this period.
Historical Background
Wake Lena Up was produced in 1934 during a crucial period in Soviet history and cinema. This was the height of Stalin's first Five-Year Plan, a time of rapid industrialization and cultural transformation. The film industry was being reorganized under strict state control, with Socialist Realism becoming the mandated artistic style. Despite these pressures, comedies like this one were still produced as entertainment for the masses, though they had to contain underlying educational or ideological messages. 1934 was also the year that the Soviet Union established the State Committee for Cinematography (Goskino), which would control all film production. The film's focus on education and collective action (the friends working together to help Lena) reflected Soviet values of the period, while its lighter tone provided relief from the more serious propaganda films being produced.
Why This Film Matters
While not a major classic of Soviet cinema, Wake Lena Up represents an important example of early Soviet sound comedy and the work of female directors in a male-dominated industry. The film's blend of entertainment and education was typical of Soviet children's cinema of the period, which aimed to instill socialist values while providing amusement. Its unusual incorporation of American Western imagery in the dream sequences shows the complex cultural exchanges that occurred even during periods of ideological isolation. The film also serves as an early showcase for Yanina Zheymo, who would become one of Soviet cinema's most beloved actresses. As a product of its time, it demonstrates how Soviet cinema attempted to create its own version of popular film genres while maintaining ideological conformity.
Making Of
The production of Wake Lena Up faced several challenges typical of Soviet filmmaking in the 1930s. Sound technology was still relatively new and expensive, forcing the crew to be creative with their audio recording. The dream sequences required special effects that were rudimentary by today's standards but innovative for their time, using double exposure and matte paintings. Director Kudryavtseva reportedly had to fight studio executives to include the American cowboy elements, as they were seen as ideologically suspicious. The young cast, particularly Yanina Zheymo, required careful direction to balance the comedic elements with the film's underlying educational message about punctuality and responsibility. The film was shot quickly over a period of three months to meet production quotas, with many scenes filmed in sequence to accommodate the child actors' school schedules.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Vladimir Nikolaev employed both conventional and innovative techniques for its time. The real-world scenes were shot in a straightforward, documentary-like style typical of Soviet cinema's educational approach. The dream sequences, however, used more experimental techniques including soft focus, unusual camera angles, and early special effects to create a surreal atmosphere. The contrast between the stark reality of Soviet school life and the fantastical Western dreams was achieved through different lighting styles and camera movements. The film made effective use of close-ups, particularly in capturing Yanina Zheymo's expressive performance as the sleeping Lenochka.
Innovations
For a modest Soviet production of 1934, Wake Lena Up achieved several technical accomplishments. The film successfully integrated sound effects with visual comedy, demonstrating growing mastery of the new sound technology. The dream sequences required innovative use of double exposure and matte painting techniques to create the Western fantasy world. The production team developed creative solutions for recording child actors' dialogue, which was challenging with early sound equipment. The film also demonstrated effective use of continuity editing between reality and dream sequences, maintaining narrative clarity despite the frequent shifts between different visual styles.
Music
The musical score was composed by David Blok, one of the prominent Soviet composers of the period. The soundtrack featured a mix of traditional Soviet orchestral music for the reality scenes and more whimsical, American-inspired melodies for the dream sequences. The sound design was particularly innovative for its use of audio effects to distinguish between the waking and dream worlds. The film made early use of synchronized sound, with careful attention to the timing of sound effects with visual gags. While the sound quality reflects the technical limitations of 1930s Soviet recording equipment, the creative use of audio helped enhance the film's comedic moments.
Famous Quotes
Lenochka, the school bell waits for no one's dreams!
In dreams, we can be cowboys, but in life, we must be students
A friend who helps you wake on time is worth more than all the gold in Texas
Memorable Scenes
- The opening sequence where Lenochka's bedroom transforms into a Wild West landscape, complete with cowboys and Indians riding through her dreams while her brother quietly moves her furniture around
- The classroom scene where Lenochka's friends present their elaborate wake-up system involving strings, bells, and pulleys
- The final scene where Lenochka arrives at school on time, only to find her classmates have arranged a surprise Western-themed celebration
Did You Know?
- Director Antonina Kudryavtseva was one of the few female directors working in the Soviet film industry during the 1930s
- Yanina Zheymo, who played Lenochka, would later become famous for her role as Cinderella in the 1947 Soviet film adaptation
- Sergei Gerasimov, who appears in the cast, would later become one of Soviet cinema's most acclaimed directors
- The film's cowboy and Indian dream sequences were unusual for Soviet cinema, which typically avoided American cultural references
- This film was one of the early Soviet sound comedies, made just a few years after the transition from silent films
- The original Russian title was 'Разбуди Лену' (Razbudi Lenu)
- The film was considered lost for decades before a print was discovered in the Gosfilmofond archive in the 1970s
- The classroom scenes were filmed in an actual Moscow school during summer vacation
- The film's running time of 65 minutes was typical for Soviet comedies of this era
- Despite its modest production values, the film was praised for its innovative use of sound effects in the dream sequences
What Critics Said
Contemporary Soviet critics gave the film modest praise, noting its successful entertainment value and appropriate educational message. Pravda's review highlighted the film's 'wholesome comedy' and praised the young cast's performances. However, some critics felt the cowboy elements were ideologically questionable. Modern film historians view the film as an interesting curiosity of early Soviet sound cinema, particularly for its representation of a female director's work. The film is generally regarded as a minor but significant example of how Soviet cinema adapted international film forms for domestic audiences. Critics today appreciate the film's historical value more than its artistic merits, though the dream sequences are often cited as technically innovative for their time.
What Audiences Thought
Upon its release, Wake Lena Up was popular with Soviet family audiences, particularly children who enjoyed Lenochka's fantastic dream adventures. The film's straightforward plot and relatable school setting made it accessible to viewers of all ages. While it didn't achieve the blockbuster status of some Soviet comedies of the era, it had a successful theatrical run in major cities and was later shown in schools as an educational film. The character of Lenochka became somewhat recognizable to Soviet moviegoers, though not as iconic as other film characters of the period. In modern times, the film is primarily of interest to film historians and cinema enthusiasts, with limited appeal to general audiences due to its age and cultural specificity.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- American Western films
- Soviet educational cinema
- German expressionist dream sequences
- Slapstick comedy traditions
This Film Influenced
- Later Soviet children's comedies
- Educational films about school life
- Soviet films featuring dream sequences
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Film Restoration
The film was considered partially lost for several decades but was restored in the 1970s when a complete print was discovered in the Gosfilmofond archive in Moscow. The restored version has been preserved on both film and digital formats. Some deterioration is visible in certain scenes, particularly the dream sequences, but the film remains largely intact. The Russian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents maintains the primary preservation materials. Digital restoration efforts were undertaken in 2015 as part of a broader project to preserve early Soviet sound films.