Eisenstein returns to the Soviet Union, facing criticism and suspicion due to his prolonged absence and the failure of his foreign projects. The political climate has become increasingly restrictive under Stalin's rule.

Eisenstein attempts to make "Bezhin Meadow", a film glorifying a young peasant who denounces his father as an enemy of the state. However, the film is heavily criticized by the Communist Party for its formalist tendencies and ideological shortcomings.

"Bezhin Meadow" is banned before its release, and Eisenstein is publicly denounced. He faces the threat of imprisonment and possibly execution, a common fate for artists who fell out of favor with the Stalinist regime. All copies of the film are later destroyed, though some surviving stills and fragments offer glimpses of its intended form.

Seeking to regain favor with the authorities, Eisenstein directs "Alexander Nevsky", a patriotic historical drama celebrating the Russian victory over the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. The film is a critical and commercial success, and it helps to rehabilitate Eisenstein's reputation.