Anton Chekov's short stories amalgamated into a single film. Nikita Mikhalkov, the half brother of Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky makes an enchanting light-hearted film of exquisite quality. (His half-brother prefers to make more serious films.)
Mikhalkov gets Marcello Mastroianni to give his most fascinating performance deservedly winning the Best Actor award at Cannes. Mikhalkov also gets wonderful if not the best performances from the three actresses Silvano Mangano, Marthe Keller, and Elena Safanova. Plus yet another interesting turn from the talented Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy (immortalized in Kozintsev's Hamlet). Isabella Rossellini gives a cameo appearance towards the end of the film.
It's a film that will be remembered for its well-weaved screenplay of several Chekov stories into a seamless single tale, the lovely performances, the art direction and last but not least, director and co-scriptwriter Nikita Mikhalkov.
Mikhalkov gets Marcello Mastroianni to give his most fascinating performance deservedly winning the Best Actor award at Cannes. Mikhalkov also gets wonderful if not the best performances from the three actresses Silvano Mangano, Marthe Keller, and Elena Safanova. Plus yet another interesting turn from the talented Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy (immortalized in Kozintsev's Hamlet). Isabella Rossellini gives a cameo appearance towards the end of the film.
It's a film that will be remembered for its well-weaved screenplay of several Chekov stories into a seamless single tale, the lovely performances, the art direction and last but not least, director and co-scriptwriter Nikita Mikhalkov.