A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts

Ally Pitts
  • 4.7 (14)
  • FILM REVIEWS

Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.

  1. 11/30/2025

    NOIRVEMBER SPECIAL: Not Russian, a novel by Mikhail Shevelev

    Cameron Lallana of The Slavic Literature Pod joins host Ally Pitts for a special episode on this short but hard-hitting novel about a Russian journalist whose life is thrown into chaos when a figure from his past suddenly comes back into his life as the leader of a terrorist group. The premise sounds run-of-the-mill, but the execution is anything but as the situation causes our protagonist to dig into his memories of the past few decades to try to figure out what has happened to Russian society during that time. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://slaviclitpod.com/ https://europaeditions.co.uk/book/9781787704879/not-russian  https://www.europaeditions.com/author/337/mikhail-shevelev  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/noirvember-2024/detail/ Not Russian By Mikhail Shevelev (uk.bookshop.org affiliate link)  A Very Short Introduction to Film Noir (uk.bookshop.org affiliate link) - Film Noir https://ko-fi.com/russiansovietmoviepod https://patreon.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Geoffrey Hosking - The Rediscovery of Politics https://herheadinfilms.com/  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    2h 3m

  2. 10/19/2025 · BONUS

    NEWS: Battleship Potemkin docks in The Light cinemas on Sun 26th Oct + more silent film screening news!

    And our host Ally Pitts is introducing the screening in Banbury! Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece finishes its centenary run in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on Sunday 26th October 2025 with screenings at The Light cinemas. Those The Light locations are in: Addlestone, Bolton, Bradford, Cambridge, Huddersfield, New Brighton, Redhill, Sheffield, Sittingbourne, Stockport, Thetford, Walsall, and Wisbech. The film is screening as part of The Light's Iconic strand. Ally also mentions the musician Hugo Max's current UK tour accompanying the silent films Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Nosferatu, Häxan, and Der Golem for the spooky season. Links: https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/ https://thelight.co.uk/  https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/iconic https://hugomax.co.uk/halloween-with-hugo-uk-tour-2025https://hugomax.co.uk/scoring-silent-cinema https://hugomax.co.uk/upcoming-performances  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/battleship-potemkin Klassiki: Battleship Potemkin is also on the streaming service Klassiki with a score by Max Reinhardt & the Instant Orchestra. For a 30-day free trial: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/  If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    6 min

  3. 08/31/2025 · BONUS

    NEWS! Ally Pitts introduces Milton Keynes Gallery screening of Battleship Potemkin

    Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece continues its centenary run in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in throughout September and October 2025. Since we published a mini-episode about this BFI season last week, our intrepid host has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at MK Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm. He's also in talks with The Light in Banbury, Oxfordshire about introducing it there too on Sunday 26th October! Links: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/battleship-potemkin https://mkgallery.org/event/battleship-potemkin-12a/  https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/ https://thelight.co.uk/  https://uppcinema.com/show/battleship-potemkin/  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ Klassiki: Battleship Potemkin is also on the streaming service Klassiki with a score by Max Reinhardt & the Instant Orchestra. For a 30-day free trial: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/  If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    2 min

  4. 08/24/2025 · BONUS

    NEWSFLASH: Battleship Potemkin centenary screenings & Blu-ray release

    Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in late August, and through September and October 2025. UPDATE: Since this mini-episode was originally published, our intrepid host Ally Pitts has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at Milton Keynes Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm, and he's also in talks with The Light in Banbury, Oxfordshire to introduce it there too on Sunday 26th October! Battleship Potemkin is also on the streaming service Klassiki with a score by Max Reinhardt & the Instant Orchestra. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-releases/battleship-potemkin https://uppcinema.com/show/battleship-potemkin/  https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/battleship-potemkin-12a  https://mkgallery.org/event/battleship-potemkin-12a/  https://banbury.thelight.co.uk/ https://thelight.co.uk/  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/silent-films-with-scores-by-juliet-merchant/ Klassiki: For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/  https://films.klassiki.online/battleship-potemkin  If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    9 min

  5. 06/29/2025 · BONUS

    NEWS: Ally Pitts curates Jane Austen 250th anniversary film season! Plus Whit Stillman tour, and podcast recommendations!

    Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a season of films adapted from or inspired by the works of Jane Austen that he has co-curated with the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also mentions Whit Stillman's UK tour in late July 2025. And Soviet Winnie the Pooh. Obviously. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-jane-austen-250/  T. Hanks for the Memories Podcast: Bridge of Spies (2015) episode  The Social Minute: A Social Network minute-by-minute podcast  As If! A Clueless minute-by-minute podcast by Darren Husted  Soviet animator Fyodor Khitruk, director of the Soviet Winnie the Pooh cartoons  https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/  Milton Keynes Gallery cinema listings  https://lostreels.co.uk/whitstillmantour.html Picturehouse Rediscover strand  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    6 min

  6. 06/08/2025

    Ballad of a Soldier (Grigori Chukhrai; 1959)

    Matthew Chadourne, stand-up comedian, executive producer and creative director of the Oxford Comedy Festival, and co-host of the Saint Misbehavin' podcast joins host Ally Pitts to discuss this understated Oscar and Bafta-winning classic by Ukrainian-born World War II veteran Grigori Chukhrai. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/our-acts   https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/shows  https://qedcomedylab.co.uk/saintmisbehavinpod  https://www.criterion.com/films/343-ballad-of-a-soldier https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/201-ballad-of-a-soldier  https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse/list?sort=spine_number&country=Soviet%20Union  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/ten-great-non-hollywood-world-war-ii-movies/detail/ 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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    2h 20m

  7. 05/17/2025 · BONUS

    NEWS: Tarkovsky’s Mirror in Oxford, PLUS Soviet cinema at PCC, and Hugo Max silent film screening tour

    Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a screening of Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror that he'll be introducing on Sunday 25th May as part of the Dreamscapes classic season at Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also shares news about screenings of Soviet films at the Prince Charles Cinema, and shares details of silent film screenings with live music by Hugo Max. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Dreamscapes classic season at Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-dreamscapes/  Antifa on screen classic season at the UPP https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/ Come and See & Elem Klimov https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episodes/come-and-see-elem-klimov-1985-41611107  https://uppcinema.com/show/come-and-see/ https://letterboxd.com/thetop100/list/the-greatest-films-ever-made-as-selected/  https://www.criterion.com/films/28895-come-and-see The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London https://princecharlescinema.com/seasons-events/bleak-week/ https://princecharlescinema.com/seasons-events/tarkovsky/   https://princecharlescinema.com/film/6773592/the-colour-of-pomegranates-sayat-nova/  https://princecharlescinema.com/film/20569368/the-cranes-are-flying/  https://princecharlescinema.com/film/1865782/battleship-potemkin-bronenosets-potyomkin/ https://princecharlescinema.com/whats-on/   Hugo Max scores silent cinema https://hugomax.co.uk/news  https://hugomax.co.uk/upcoming-past-performances  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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    4 min

  8. 04/27/2025 · BONUS

    NEWS: Come and See (Elem Klimov; 1985) 40th anniversary and Antifa on Screen season at the UPP in Oxford

    Host Ally Pitts highlights the 40th anniversary of Come and See, directed by Elem Klimov, shares news about a season of films on the theme of anti-fascism at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford, and brings attention to a couple of other anti-fascist/anti-totalitarian/anti-cult of personality films.  Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Antifa on screen at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/ Klassiki For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/  If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. Ally’s Klassiki recommendations  Come and See & Elem Klimov https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episodes/come-and-see-elem-klimov-1985-41611107  https://uppcinema.com/show/come-and-see/ https://letterboxd.com/thetop100/list/the-greatest-films-ever-made-as-selected/  https://www.criterion.com/films/28895-come-and-see https://princecharlescinema.com/whats-on/   The Cremator & Juraj Herz https://uppcinema.com/show/the-cremator/ Sun 11th and Mon 12th MAY https://uppcinema.com/show_type/classic-season-antifa-on-screen/  https://www.secondrundvd.com/release_cremator_bd.html  https://klassiki.online/caught-by-the-night-gothic-visions-juraj-herz-podcast/  The Great Dictator, Charlie Chaplin, Pamela Hutchinson, and Eccentricism in Leningrad https://uppcinema.com/show/the-great-dictator/  https://pamhutch.wordpress.com/in-person/ https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/10-great-films-1925 Includes The Gold Rush and Battleship Potemkin https://klassiki.online/ian-christie-eccentrism-soviet-avant-garde-podcast/  Ordinary Fascism & Mikhail Romm https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/film/triumph-over-violence/  Repentance & Tengiz Abuladze  https://letterboxd.com/film/repentance/  https://films.klassiki.online/repentance 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/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

    6 min
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4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.

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