onegin the film

[Rodney Patterson]

Dear colleagues,

I saw the film a few days ago.  It takes some liberties with Pushkin's novel
and ultimately fails to be greatly satisfying as art. The film version
looses too much of the characters' motivation and background (Onegin's
change of heart when he rediscovers Tatjana after her marriage, for
instance, seems merely shallow and immature rather than suggesting the
possibility of real regret for better reasons -- such as Onegin's finally
growing up and finally perceiving Tatjana's real value as a human being).  A
number of important scenes are absent (Tatjana's dream being the most
puzzling omission, since it could have been dazzling on film!).  The
characters failed to "come alive."  However, I think it would be excellent
in the classroom for the following reasons:  it was made with profound love
for Pushkin and his novel (many subtle touches that only someone well-versed
in Pushkin's life and works would apprehend and appreciate); the sets,
locales, costumes, dueling pistols, manners, music, dances, etc., are
perfect and effective; and it saves enough of the original to give students
a powerful introduction to Pushkin's work while tempting the better students
to read the original.

Rodney L. Patterson
Associate Professor of Slavic Langauges and Literatures
State University of New York at Albany
rlp96 at cnsvax.albany.edu


>From: baron chivrin <thebaron at INTERACCESS.COM>
>Reply-To: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
><SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>
>To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
>Subject: onegin the film
>Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 09:42:42 -0500
>
>dorogie seelangers
>
>has anyone seen the recent (i believe american) film called onegin? i am
>thinking of showing it to a class and wondering if it's a worthwhile
>version.
>
>spasibo za vashy retsenziyu.
>
>baron chivrin
>
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