#eisenstein

This last November 2, I decided to celebrate Día De Los Muertos with my intellectual and artistic hero Sergei Eisenstein.

On an objective level, it felt like my duty as a Mexican-American Eisenstein researcher living in Moscow at this time of year to adorn the grave of one of Russia’s greatest artists who had a deep creative and emotional affinity for Mexican culture (and its traditions surrounding the dead in particular).

On a personal level, it felt like a spiritual quest to unite the strands of my inner lives. I grew up with Día De Los Muertos (although I never actually got to celebrate in a graveyard because none of my ancestors are buried near where we lived) and Mexican art. Both my parents make art that draws inspiration from Mezoamerican folk traditions, and my dad also loves and emulates early Soviet art. He was the one who introduced me to Eisenstein’s films too. And here I am now, living in Russia on a research scholarship for a project deeply tied to Eisenstein’s work.

I hope that some day, the powers that be here will allow for a dedicated group of Eisenstein’s spiritual heirs to give him the full ofrenda and late-night grave party treatment. This year, Novodevichiye Cemetery closed as usual at 5 pm so I just left a modest offering of paper marigolds (handmade with love by me after I realized that it was not possible to find live marigolds in Moscow in November) and incense.

¡Feliz Día De Los Muertos, Serguéi Mijáilovich!

С днем мертвых, Сергей Михаилович!

¡Qué viva Eizenshtéin!