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Amazon.co.uk Review
Given that for Russians, Pushkin's poem Eugene Onegin is sort of like Hamlet, Beowulf and Lord Byron's Don Juan rolled into one melancholy tale of lost love and ennui among the gentry, it's surprising Russian filmmakers have balked at adapting the film. Having taken a stage production of Hamlet to Russia where it was rapturously received, self-confessed Slavophile actor Ralph Fiennes must have thought he was making reparation when he executive-produced and starred in this faithful adaptation of the film. With Martha Fiennes on board as director, it's something of a family affair with more than a little of the solemnity one often discovers in "personal projects". Pushkin's romanticism comes across amply, but little of his ferocious wit or, inevitably, the authorial voice that makes the poem so compelling, even in translation. Ralph Fiennes typecasts himself in the title role: his Onegin is yet another of the actor's wintry, haunted lovers in period dress (this time early 19th century). The character, a jaded roué from St. Petersburg, summers in the countryside where he inadvertently wins the heart of the impulsive Tatyana (Liv Tyler, the girl they book when Gwyneth Paltrow's busy). Onegin's casual attitude to her love leads to a tragic duel (magnificently tense and perfectly staged), and years later a chance meeting stirs up feelings of regret, triumph and moral queasiness. Tears well in eyes, letters are sent and read, furs are ruffled in the snow. This is the high-brow end of costume drama: patrician in its literary purity, and rather admirable in its restraint and good taste, if a little dull. If you're not a fan of genre, you might start screaming for Steven Seagal to descend from a helicopter and start spraying the impeccable sets with an Uzi. --Leslie Felperin
Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
English
Region 2
Dolby Pro Logic English
Dolby Pro Logic
Interviews
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English
Region 2
Dolby Pro Logic English
Dolby Pro Logic
Interviews
News Reports
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Directed by Ralph's sister Martha, this family affair is a beautifully made film. This look of this film is all light and dark; the white of the Russian winter and wide expanses of countryside compared with the claustrophobic darkness of many of the interiors. However the subtext of the main story of unrequited love is distinctly in shades of grey.
Young St Petersburg aristo Onegin (Fiennes) is left a country estate in his Uncle's will. Tired of the city, he begins to enjoy the country, forming a friendship with neighbour Lensky, and meeting the enigmatic Tatyana (Tyler). But he makes two rash moves, he rejects Tatyana's love, and secondly he kills Lensky in a duel over an imagined impropriety with Lensky's fiancée, Olga, (Tatyana's sister). Returning to the city after several years of travels, he finds Tatyana married into Petersburg society and he becomes obsessed by her now she has become unobtainable.
Russian melancholy suits Fiennes' brooding brow and dark eyes to a T; as Onegin he is cool and detached, but there is an spark inside struggling to get out. But Onegin always takes the easy option - something he lives to regret. Liv Tyler is a beautiful young Tatyana and manages the transition to a woman well although she can't help looking young, and Toby Stephens is good support as Lensky.
Young St Petersburg aristo Onegin (Fiennes) is left a country estate in his Uncle's will. Tired of the city, he begins to enjoy the country, forming a friendship with neighbour Lensky, and meeting the enigmatic Tatyana (Tyler). But he makes two rash moves, he rejects Tatyana's love, and secondly he kills Lensky in a duel over an imagined impropriety with Lensky's fiancée, Olga, (Tatyana's sister). Returning to the city after several years of travels, he finds Tatyana married into Petersburg society and he becomes obsessed by her now she has become unobtainable.
Russian melancholy suits Fiennes' brooding brow and dark eyes to a T; as Onegin he is cool and detached, but there is an spark inside struggling to get out. But Onegin always takes the easy option - something he lives to regret. Liv Tyler is a beautiful young Tatyana and manages the transition to a woman well although she can't help looking young, and Toby Stephens is good support as Lensky.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have rarely seen such beauty in a film as Onegin. The leading actors are formidable, and the photography is so refined, and compelling to the eye, that it is a thrill. The wardrobes are stunning.
Go for it, it will be one of those rare gems in your DVD collection.
If sex stars had been available it would not have been enough. I hope to see more from Martha Fiennes, she is up there with her brother - She is a rare and outstanding director. Ralf has proved his outstanding ability as an actor, a long time ago - He is met in the same capacity by Liv Tyler.
The lack of Oscars, reveals Hollywood, as being totally unaware of some of film productions finest hours.
Go for it, it will be one of those rare gems in your DVD collection.
If sex stars had been available it would not have been enough. I hope to see more from Martha Fiennes, she is up there with her brother - She is a rare and outstanding director. Ralf has proved his outstanding ability as an actor, a long time ago - He is met in the same capacity by Liv Tyler.
The lack of Oscars, reveals Hollywood, as being totally unaware of some of film productions finest hours.
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a Russian, I would say that Onegin is a success. In many other movies Russian characters are almost anecdotal or lack the Russian spirit, but it is not the case in this movie. When I saw Ralph Fiennes I was astonished how well he felt and played Eugene Onegin. He got into the role perfectly. He looked totally like one would imagine a high society gentleman.
I started reading Eugene Onegin in Russian right after I saw the movie. Yes, unfortunately some things were not included in the movie. For a foreigner it may be very hard to understand Pushkin’s poetic language and impressions, leave alone including them in a movie that is intended for English-speaking audience. If most of the poem was included in the movie, the majority of the audience most likely would not have understood it. However the director of the film got the main idea of the story and did not make the movie a tasteless sequence of cute scenes overwhelmed with superfluous details. The story develops at a good pace.
Oh, and another thing was the use of what sounded like Bulgarian or some other music. It could be gypsy music, but definitely not Russian. In any case, it is not the music I would associate with rural or suburban St.Petersburg of those days. Luckily the music was beautiful and did not spoil the movie a bit.
Good job!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not only the story...
... but the soundtrack remains remarkable about this movie, too.
I saw it recently on TV and the music impressed me so much that I simply could not resist buying the... Read more
I saw it recently on TV and the music impressed me so much that I simply could not resist buying the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by B. Stefan
Onegin without the Pretension
Whether you know Pushkin's prose poem masterpiece either from the original or via Tchaikovsky's sublime opera or indeed you don't know it at all, this film is well worth your time... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Eugene Onegin
great cinema and superb characterisation
This is a superb film, atmospheric, great storyline and great acting. It is the type of timeless film that you will want to revisit time and time again. Read more
Published 8 months ago by paul kilpatrick
Not what I'd hoped
I bought this some years ago and watched it then. I started to watch it again. Usual Ralph Fiennes fare - either pained or sneering. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Le Grand Barbare
onegin
Well written and executed film. Ralph Fiennes is an excellent actor and was him at his best. I like Puskin as writer. would recommend the DVD
Published 20 months ago by Paul Bostock
A 'MUST SEE' MOVIE!
I would probably go as far as to say this is one of the most beautiful movies ever made!
This film is about 'unrequited' love - but there is a turnaround, and unlike... Read more
This film is about 'unrequited' love - but there is a turnaround, and unlike... Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by FAMOUS NAME
Russian delight
While Liv Tyler performs the customary enigmatic self as sees in other of her works, Ralph Fiennes manages to be the self-indulgent dandy, too bored to concept the ways of his... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2009 by Paul Bugge-asperheim
A Masterpiece!
Overall: great directing, smashing play, spectacular camera work and interesting extras. The main characters demonstrated interest in the context and were `qualified' on the scene. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2008 by pedmatters
a masterpiece
few movies I watch and then go buy coz I believe they worth keeping, this is definitely one to any collection... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2007 by Sam
If I thought you were dull, I would have shot you
An incredibly shot version of Pushkin's epic poem, brother and sister Fiennes have created a cinematic masterpiece - but sadly one lacking in any energy or verve. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2006 by Louise Stanley
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