About the film
For twenty-five years Vanya and his niece Sonya have run the family estate and sent the money to her father, Professor Serebryakov, whom they admired. Now the retired professor has come to live with them, with his beautiful young wife Yelena.
Up close, the great man is vain and empty. Vanya falls hopelessly in love with Yelena, and so does the local doctor Astrov, while Sonya loves Astrov in silence.
With Smoktunovsky as Vanya and Bondarchuk as Astrov, this is one of the most respected screen versions of Chekhov.
Did you know?
- The score is by Alfred Schnittke.
- Director Sergei Bondarchuk (War and Peace) plays Doctor Astrov.
