ancient civilizations

His epic films like 'Battleship Potemkin' and 'October' employed montage techniques to explore historical power structures and civilizational collapse.

He directly adapted classical texts in 'The Decameron' and 'Canterbury Tales,' and explored ancient Rome's cultural and political legacy through a modern lens.

His film 'The Revenant' and earlier works examine human survival and civilization against primal natural forces, echoing themes of ancient societies.