Atlas Obscura Society Chicago: Massacres and Staircases in Chicago's Union Station

Chicago film critic Roger Ebert once lamented that Sergei Eisenstein's film Battleship Potemkin (1925) has been "so famous for so long that it is almost impossible to come to it with a fresh eye."
On one hand, Ebert's right: Battleship Potemkin is awfully famous. The silent Soviet film, particularly its eight-minute massacre on the Odessa steps, serves as a masterpiece of international cinema. Film majors study it. Movie critics reference it. And, as we will experience at this event, filmmakers repeatedly pay homage to it.
On the other hand, Ebert might have exaggerated the film's resilience, or lack thereof. Is it truly impossible to view Battleship Potemkin with a fresh eye? We seek to prove Roger Ebert wrong!
This two-part event begins in Union Station's former barbershop, now called The Founders Room. As you enjoy kolacky (we're reviewing a Russian movie after all!), film scholar and Atlas Obscura Field Agent Dr. Kelli Marshall will consider Battleship Potemkin alongside a handful of its cinematic descendants, including one that prominently features Union Station's Great Hall as its backdrop. Then, we'll briefly tour the Great Hall's staircase, learning about its history and recent renovations, as well as Hollywood's long-time infatuation with stairs.
ATLAS OBSCURA PRESENTS: THE 2019 FOCUS ON FILM SERIES
In 1889, Eastman Kodak sold its first strip of film stock, a flexible and transparent material used for recording motion pictures. It's now exactly 130 years later, and while film stock has mostly fallen by the wayside, the images photographed on it remain. For 2019, Atlas Obscura is delighted to focus on film with a series of events curated by Field Agent and film scholar Dr. Kelli Marshall. Taking place in theaters and venues in and around Chicago, these events will explore the moving picture in all its iterations: themes, techniques, characters, genres, directors, stars, and physical locations. Join us in 2019 as we celebrate film stock's 130th birthday and take a deep dive into its contents!
ADDITIONAL DETAILS

About 10 minutes prior to starting time, please check in with Kelli just outside The Legacy Room in Union Station’s Great Hall, 500 W. Jackson Blvd.
Ticket price includes talk/screenings, tour, and pastries; feel free to bring your own coffee, tea, or soda, available for purchase on Union Station's mezzanine.
Some film clips contain graphic violence and may not be suitable for children under age 13.
This indoor event runs in rain, snow, or shine.
Photography is allowed.
A parking garage is available ($7 vouchers are available at the event).
The ticket is non-refundable, but you can transfer your purchase by following this handy Eventbrite tutorial.

Questions?
Email Joie Mikitson at joie.mikitson@atlasobscura.com.
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Advance tickets only. All sales final. No refunds or exchanges.