MMM

This chapter explores Sergei Eisenstein's ambitious but unrealized film project, MMM, conceived in the early 1930s as a groundbreaking Soviet comedy. It outlines Eisenstein's motivations to create a uniquely revolutionary comedic film that merges his theories of montage with innovative narrative techniques, focusing on Maxim Maximovich Maxim, a bureaucrat who navigates absurd interactions between medieval and modern worlds. The chapter details Eisenstein's meticulous preparations, including extensive drafts and sketches, which highlight his exploration of mutability, metacinematic devices, and the interplay between ideological content and form. The chapter emphasizes how MMM blends satire with philosophical commentary, illustrating Eisenstein's engagement with comedic storytelling as a vehicle for deeper social critique. Finally, the chapter situates MMM within Eisenstein's larger body of work, showing how the project reflects both the constraints of Soviet filmmaking and his enduring pursuit of experimental cinema.