Olga Preobrazhenskaya, with music by Nina Makarova

I shaped my craft in the coldest of nations
And became its first female director
My art was declined by various creations

The passion for acting at first was greater
I tread on several stages as a thespian
I studied at the Moscow Art Theatre

My repertoire covered all that was Russian
The Keys To Happiness was my screen debut
My directorial shift triggered discussion

In 1916 I had a big breakthrough
My film was praised, unlike my identity
My name: masculinised in every review

Yet I continued my path incessantly
I directed fourteen films and went beyond
Academia was another specialty

My support towards newcomers was headstrong
Also through the Gerasimov Institute
I, Olga Preobrazhenskaya, always stood strong

I was tackling a medium that was mute
My plight was shared by a brilliant sisterhood
That could write, perform, edit and of course, shoot

It was a mission, not just a livelihood
Esfir Shub I admired considerably
Her montage of archival reel was so good

In The Fall Of The Romanov Dynasty
Facts were everything, fiction she would withhold
Her work was a visual book of history

Aleksandra Khokhlova was also bold
The intelligentsia came from family
But her artistic path she alone controlled

She did not succumb to wicked calumny
She was told she did not have the looks to act
So she took control of filming skillfully

Margarita Barskaya made a huge impact
Of both silent films and talkies she took hold
Whilst the Brumberg Sisters had properly tracked

The new animation technique to behold
We were Russian female filmmakers
Trying to leave a solid mark in the world

We were dreamy artists, not mischief-makers
Thus, I was granted the title of Honour
I was approved by the policy-makers

I was a step away from the embalmer
Will recognition come for all at ninety?
Good Luck Soviet Female cinema d’auteur!