#basmanov

Among his quite lengthy list of interests, Eisenstein (the director of Ivan the Terrible) was especially fond of Chinese art and the art of Peking opera specifically.

Having found this (and some photos of Mei Lanfang) out, the (previously) odd design of the Mokosh mask suddenly started to make sense to me.

I decided to start translating at least some part of the 'Ivan Grozny' movie by S. Eisenstein so I'll share some of my favs all the way through!

This one is abt Fyodor being jealous <3

The sundress swirling. Soaring, as if it got detached from the ground. Walking through the mansion like a hurricane. Fawning near the Tsar's seat. It stopped abruptly. The beads to one side. The braids to another. Under the mask — black curls. Under the brows — a familiar eye. Under the sundress — a familiar stature.

The Tsar loves to dress up. He loves to dress up the others as well. The masks — to make a ruckus. So does Fed'ka entertain the Tsar, dressed up as a lastikha*.

Fed'ka overhears the words of the Tsar: 'For I am an orphan with nobody to love and pity me...' Resentment starts growing in Fyodor.

Jealousy is taking over Basmanov: He is concerned with Vladimir's nearness to the Tzar. His eyes are burning with anxiety.

Ivan looks at him barely noticably, with his eyes narrowed. He winked.

And where can he find someone more beautiful than me?