MINI-REVIEW: Unclenching the Fists (Kira Kovalenko; 2021)

To celebrate Silent Movie Day—29th September every year!—host Ally Pitts shares a favourite episode from his podcasting archive. Back in 2021, deep in the Covid-19 pandemic he guested on Media-eval: A Medieval Pop-Culture Podcast, hosted by historian Dr. Sarah Ifft-Decker. Ally also trails that the next regular episode of A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law. Support Ally's film & culture work, keep the show on the road etc. patreon.com/cw/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc UK & Republic of Ireland folks, you can support the show by buying from Ally's bookshop.org affiliate shop. Folks elsewhere, please have a browse and get inspiration for what you might want to pick up from your nearest independent bookshop! uk.bookshop.org/shop/russian-soviet-movie-podcast Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (hardback) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (audiobook) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Fruit of Her Hands Jewish and Christian Women’s Work in Medieval Catalan Cities by Dr Sarah Ifft-Decker from from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop More links! Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1 https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/Her Head in Films episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/69-realized-mysticism-in-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc Socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts YouTube: youtube.com/@russiansovietmoviepodcastLetterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

29th September is Silent Movie Day, which means cinemas/movie theaters around the world will be showing some of the best surviving films from this incredible era of film!In this mini-sode, host Ally Pitts also trails that the next regular episode of the show will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law.Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode:Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1 https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

Host and creator Ally Pitts outlines what you can expect from the podcast, shares why he started it, and his experience of making the show since 2017. He signposts some popular episodes to get you started.He also outlines the show's position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Short version: the show stands with Ukraine.This trailer was written, recorded, and released late August 2026. Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026.Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren.More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/ https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows https://www.silentsynced.com/ https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: [email protected]

Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026.Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren.More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/ https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows https://www.silentsynced.com/ https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: [email protected]