Labor of love
A new film version of ‘Anna Karenina’ is complete. By Olga Sharapova
The St. Petersburg Times
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For The St. Petersburg Times
A still from Sergei Solovyov’s new screen adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, ‘Anna Karenina,’ which premiered at the Mikhailovsky Theater late last month.
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“Anna Karenina” has long been a favorite subject for filmmakers. The latest director to bring Leo Tolstoy’s timeless novel to the big screen is the Russian director Sergei Solovyov, whose film premiered at St. Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theater on May 31 after fifteen long years of work on the movie, and is to be shown in tandem with another film about the shooting of “Anna Karenina.” Almost all of the scenes were shot in historic interiors in St. Petersburg. “Two shadows hovered over me when I was filming,” said Solovyov, who was born and raised in St. Petersburg. “They were the Russian painter Mikhail Vrubel, and the Italian director Luchino Visconti. Illustrations by Vrubel for Tolstoy’s novel that I saw at the Russian Museum showed me a visible way in which I could create my Anna Karenina. And my admiration for Visconti’s interpretation of classics guided me to create a composition that is both open and true to its primary literary source.” In the past, various directors have chosen to focus on different themes and aspects of the novel when filming their adaptations. Solovyov said at a press conference at the Mikhailovsky Theater that in most previous versions, the classic story was no more than an opportunity to showcase a particular actress, such as Greta Garbo (1935) or Sophie Marceau (1997). Although the director said that his intention was not to adapt “Anna Karenina” to modernity, his screening shows an independent interpretation of the classic plot and presents Tolstoy’s universe from unexpected angles. There are around 30 screenings of Tolstoy’s masterpiece, and very few of them reflect the full complexity of the novel’s plot. “Anna Karenina” is not only a tragic love story; it is a profound narrative about two very different relationships, and family values in general. Juxtaposed with the storyline that follows the engulfing, passionate and destructive affair between Anna Karenina — a married woman — and her lover Alexei Vronsky, is the story of Konstantin Levin (Kostya) and Yekaterina Shcherbatskaya (Kitty), who have a more harmonious relationship and family life, despite life’s hurdles. Solovyev’s film is stylish and realistic, and recreates the refined, extravagant world of Russian high society in the late 19th century, with many memorable stylistic and modern details, including erotic subtlety in episodes such as one showing a nude Anna and Vronsky after their amorous encounter, or another in which they kiss in a gondola in Venice.
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For The St. Petersburg Times
The characters of Anna and Vronsky, pictured here in Venice, are imbued with more eroticism than in previous film adaptations.
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One of the key figures in the novel’s structure is Alexei Karenin, Anna’s husband. His character and transformation through Anna’s infidelity provide an example of forgiveness in accordance with genuine orthodox principles, which were a crucial part of Tolstoy’s outlook. The character of Anna is played by Tatyana Drubich, Solovyov’s ex-wife, who is well known for her parts in Solovyov’s previous films. Oleg Yankovsky, who died at the end of last month, gives a brilliant performance as Karenin and is the highlight of the film. Yaroslav Boyko, who has made a name for himself due to his roles in action movies, looks like a man for whom winning is the most important thing in life as Vronsky. Solovyov’s “Anna Karenina” took about 15 years to film, during which time the director made a parallel film about the shooting of “Anna Karenina.” “When faced with another financial and creative crisis during shooting, I suddenly saw my film with irony, set apart from all the processes, and decided to make a film about the difficulties endured by me and all my team,” he said. “So I made ‘Assa 2,’ featuring all the heroes from my first ‘Assa’ (1987).” Assa is a cult film for some generations, featuring the then-underground music of Boris Grebenshchikov, Viktor Tsoy and others. “Assa 2” will feature the infamous music of local rock musician Sergei “Shnur” Shnurov, who is known for his use of obscene language. The sequel follows an actress named Alika who is playing Anna Karenina in a film version, and many moments in the film illustrate the impossibility of finishing the film. Solovyov said that “Assa 2” could “help” audiences who are unfamiliar with Anna Karenina and Leo Tolstoy to learn about them. Unfortunately, he admitted, “today there are a lot of young people in Russia who haven’t read the famous novel, and maybe by using novel methods such as films like ‘Assa 2’ that are full of modern culture and music, we can attract young people to serious literature and make them watch the film ‘Anna Karenina.’” The director plans to show both “Assa 2” and “Anna Karenina” at cinemas and presents them as one project. “Both films should be released soon,” Solovyov said, “and I have already made an English version of ‘Anna Karenina,’ because there is great interest in the film from foreign producers.”
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