Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alexander Dovzhenko

Role / Field:

Pioneering Soviet filmmaker and screenwriter of Ukrainian origin, key to Soviet montage theory.

Born:

1894-08-29

Died:

1956-11-25

Century / Era:

1894s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Alexander or Aleksandr Petrovich Dovzhenko, also known as Oleksandr Petrovych Dovzhenko (September 10 [O.S. August 29] 1894 – November 25, 1956), was a Soviet film director and screenwriter of Ukrainian origin. He is often cited as one of the most important early Soviet filmmakers, alongside Sergei Eisenstein, Dziga Vertov, and Vsevolod Pudovkin, as well as being a pioneer of Soviet montage theory. Alexander Dovzhenko was born on September 10 [O.S.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

August 29] 1894 in the hamlet (khutor) of Viunyshche located in the Sosnitsky Uyezd of the Chernigov Governorate of the Russian Empire (present-day Sosnytsia, Ukraine), to Petro Semenovych Dovzhenko and Odarka Yermolayivna Dovzhenko. Due to policies of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was named in honor of the 13th-century Russian prince Alexander Nevsky, whose translation of relics is commemorated on 30 August. Like most residents of Sosnytsia, the family spoke Ukrainian at home, although Alexander likely learned to read Russian and Church Slavonic before learning to read Ukrainian due to the mandatory use of Russian in schools. His family was peasants, descendants of Cossacks who had migrated to Sosnytsia...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Sax — Contemporary (Died in 1894) (1894): Belgian inventor who created the saxophone and revolutionized wind instruments.
• Albert Facey — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): Australian writer and World War I veteran, best known for 'A Fortunate Life'.
• Aldous Huxley — Contemporary (Born in 1894) (1894): English writer and philosopher known for social satire and mystical explorations.
• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Aileen Wuornos — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): American serial killer known for murdering seven male clients in Florida.
• Alain Ducasse — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Renowned French-born Monégasque chef, celebrated for Michelin-starred cuisine.
• Abu Tammam — Shared historical date (08-29 · Died) (846): Master poet of the Abbasid era, renowned for compiling the monumental work, Al-Hamasah.
• Aimé Bonpland — Shared historical date (08-29 · Born) (1773): French explorer and botanist, renowned for his scientific travels with Alexander von Humboldt.
• Abbé Prévost — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Andrea Doria — Shared historical date (11-25 · Died) (1560): Prominent Genoese statesman, condottiero, and admiral who dominated Mediterranean naval power.
• 1894 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1894
• August 29 (08-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 29
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• November 25 (11-25) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 25

Frequently Asked Questions about Alexander Dovzhenko