I’ve never been a big fan of Chekhov, but this film adaptation (somewhat trimmed) does a nice job of making him enjoyable. It’s set in the 1800s Russian countryside, where a famous actress comes to visit her brother. The cast (headlined by Annette Bening, who’s deliciously self-involved and imperious) is full of fine actors doing wonderful work. Everyone is enjoying their characters’ exquisite misery and romantic frustrations. Interestingly, Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle were just paired up in “On Chesil Beach.” A few glimpses of humor manage to shine thru the drama. Even with the dialogue trimmed from the play, there are some scenes that move slowly. Still, the overall style and first-rate performances create a nice little screen version of the classic. (Criterion Cinemas only)
(3.5 / 5)