I chose the term Art Nouveau. Dictionary.com defines art nouveau as follows:
-noun
1)a style of fine and applied art current in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized chiefly by cuvilinear motifs often derived from natural forms.
2)a style of decoration and architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly by the depiction of leaves and flowers in flowing, sinuous lines.
I assume that early Russian film must have been very fluid and was probably influenced by natural patterns.
Alie, I am not sure where you found the reference to the connection between early Russian film and art nouveau (let me know!), but I think the connection could be made based on the strong graphic style of a lot of art nouveau. In Russia, the style was referred to as "moderne" and influenced everything from film to architecture to drawing and fashion. In general, the style was a reaction to the "academic art" of the 19th century, and, like you wrote, was characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs. In thinking about its influence on film, I would point to the highly stylized, flowing curvilinear forms. Another aspect of art nouveau was the idea that artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life.
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