A splendid adaptation of Chekhov’s play Platonov, Mikhalkov’s work is dense with the atmosphere of a lazy summer’s day. Guests of a general’s window gather at a country estate in turn-of-the-century Russia. The ingenious mise-en-scène and intricate camera movements delicately reveals characters attempting to recapture their past while becoming immersed in a tragic farce. The Chekhovian humor of the original material perfectly complements the film’s bittersweet drama. The beautiful cinematography by Pavel Lebeshev contributes to the merger of the dramatic and the cinematic.
Part of film series
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Treasures from the Harvard Film Archive: ...
The Little Match Girl
Directed by Jean Renoir, 1928
Live piano accompaniment by Peter FreisingerScreening on Film
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Treasures from the Harvard Film Archive: ...
Nana
Directed by Jean Renoir, 1926
Live piano accompaniment by Peter FreisingerLive Musical AccompanimentScreening on Film
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Treasures from the Harvard Film Archive: ...
Trailers, Trailers, Trailers
Introduced by Film Conservator Julie BuckScreening on Film
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Treasures from the Harvard Film Archive: ...
Sweet Smell of Success
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, 1957
Screening on Film