Aleksandra Peregonets
Actor
About Aleksandra Peregonets
Aleksandra Peregonets was a Soviet actress active during the silent film era of the 1920s. Her only documented film appearance was in the groundbreaking science fiction production 'Aelita: Queen of Mars' (1924), directed by renowned Soviet filmmaker Yakov Protazanov. This film was adapted from the novel by Alexei Tolstoy and became one of the earliest major science fiction films in cinema history. The production was notable for its ambitious scope, featuring both terrestrial and Martian sequences with elaborate set designs influenced by the constructivist art movement. Peregonets played a supporting role in this significant work of early Soviet cinema, which combined science fiction elements with social commentary on post-revolutionary Russian society. Her brief film career, consisting solely of this production, was not uncommon for actors in the early Soviet film industry, where many performers transitioned between stage and screen or had limited opportunities in the developing medium.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in 'Aelita: Queen of Mars' (1924), one of the earliest major science fiction films
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
While Aleksandra Peregonets herself had limited cultural impact due to her brief film career, her participation in 'Aelita: Queen of Mars' connects her to one of the most influential early science fiction films. The film itself had significant cultural impact, introducing Soviet audiences to science fiction as a genre and serving as both entertainment and political commentary. The film's avant-garde aesthetic and constructivist-influenced set designs influenced visual culture in the Soviet Union and beyond. Its themes of revolution, class struggle, and utopian/dystopian futures resonated with audiences and critics alike, making it a touchstone of early Soviet cinema that continues to be studied by film historians today.
Lasting Legacy
Aleksandra Peregonets' legacy is primarily tied to her participation in 'Aelita: Queen of Mars,' a film that has endured as a classic of early science fiction and Soviet cinema. While her individual contribution may have been small, she was part of a groundbreaking production that pushed the boundaries of what cinema could achieve in the 1920s. The film continues to be screened at classic film festivals and studied for its historical significance, ensuring that even minor participants like Peregonets are remembered as part of this important cultural artifact that helped establish science fiction as a legitimate film genre.
Who They Inspired
Due to her brief career consisting of only one known film, Aleksandra Peregonets did not have a significant direct influence on other actors or filmmakers. However, her work in 'Aelita' contributed to the film's overall impact, which influenced subsequent science fiction filmmaking both within and outside the Soviet Union. The film's visual style and thematic concerns can be seen echoed in later science fiction works throughout the 20th century, making her indirectly part of this influential lineage.
Off Screen
Very limited information is available about Aleksandra Peregonets' personal life, which is typical for supporting actors from the early Soviet film period whose careers were brief and whose detailed biographical information was not preserved in historical records.
Did You Know?
- 'Aelita: Queen of Mars' was one of the first full-length science fiction films ever made
- The film was based on a novel by Alexei Tolstoy, not to be confused with his more famous relative Leo Tolstoy
- Despite being a Soviet production, the film was initially popular in both the USSR and internationally
- The film's Mars sequences featured elaborate constructivist-inspired sets designed by Isaac Rabinovich and Viktor Simov
- Only about half of the original film's footage survives today in archives
- The film was both a science fiction adventure and a commentary on post-revolutionary Soviet society
- Peregonets' career appears to have consisted of only this one film, making her a one-film actress
- The film's costume design for the Martians influenced later science fiction aesthetics
- The film's title character Aelita was played by Yuliya Solntseva, who later became a prominent film director
- The Martian scenes were shot on enormous constructed sets that were considered revolutionary for their time
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Aleksandra Peregonets?
Aleksandra Peregonets was a Soviet actress from the silent film era, known primarily for her role in the 1924 science fiction film 'Aelita: Queen of Mars.' Her career appears to have been brief, with this being her only known film credit.
What films is Aleksandra Peregonets best known for?
Peregonets is known exclusively for her appearance in 'Aelita: Queen of Mars' (1924), a groundbreaking Soviet science fiction film that has become a classic of early cinema and one of the first major science fiction productions.
When was Aleksandra Peregonets born and when did she die?
Unfortunately, specific birth and death dates for Aleksandra Peregonets are not documented in available historical records, which is not uncommon for supporting actors from the early Soviet film period.
What awards did Aleksandra Peregonets win?
There are no documented awards or nominations for Aleksandra Peregonets, which is typical for a supporting actress with only one known film credit from the silent era.
What was Aleksandra Peregonets' acting style?
While specific details about Peregonets' acting style are not documented, she would have worked within the exaggerated, theatrical style common to silent film acting, particularly in Soviet productions of the 1920s that emphasized clear emotional expression.
What is the significance of 'Aelita: Queen of Mars'?
'Aelita: Queen of Mars' is historically significant as one of the earliest full-length science fiction films, notable for its avant-garde set designs, political commentary on Soviet society, and influence on the development of science fiction as a film genre.
Why is so little known about Aleksandra Peregonets?
The limited information about Peregonets is typical of supporting actors from early Soviet cinema whose careers were brief and whose records may not have been preserved through the political upheavals and documentation challenges of 20th century Russian history.
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Films
1 film
