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Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN, SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Another member of the Fiennes family leaves a mark in the film business, as Martha Fiennes makes her big-screen directorial debut with a screen adaptation of the verse novel by Aleksander Pushkin, with her big brother Ralph Fiennes in the leading role. Onegin (Fiennes) is a blase man who has grown weary of the social whirl of his life in St. Petersburg in the 1820s. Onegin's wealthy uncle has recently passed on, bequeathing him a large estate in the country, where the financially embarrassed Onegin has now chosen to live. Onegin makes fast friends with his neighbor Lensky (Toby Stephens), who introduces Onegin to his fiancée Olga (Lena Headley). Olga in turn introduces him to her mother (Harriet Walker) and her younger sister, Tatyana (Liv Tyler). Onegin finds Tatyana interesting, and she is strongly infatuated with him, finding him coolly attractive and enjoying his straightforward way of expressing himself. Tatyana makes her feelings known to Onegin in a love letter, but he calmly rejects her advances. Lensky senses Tatyana's attraction to Onegin and talks to him about her; Lensky is shocked when Onegin says he regards her as unintelligent, and in a moment of anger Lensky challenges his friend to a duel. Neither man wants to kill the other, but both are too stubborn to back down, and Onegin ends up shooting Lensky, forcing him to flee to parts unknown. Six years later, an older and more humble Onegin re-encounters the married Tatyana and begs her for a second chance. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards,
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
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
5.0 out of 5 stars
Onegin is a flawless Masterpiece - It is a crime it is not better known.
17 Feb 2007
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
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atmosperic and Engrossing
I enjoyed all the performances in this film, which I thought was true to the spirit of the original work.
Published 2 days ago by Lesley Whyte
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fiennes on form
A Russian classic, beautiful shot, slow in pace deeply atmospheric throughout. Would have loved to have seen this on the big screen, cinematography is flawless.
Published 5 days ago by Doug Griffiths
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just wonderful, I am an addict!
Perfect in every way, location, acting, story, production professionalism. One of the most touching and satisfying films I have had the pleasure of watching, I love the opera and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. C. Digby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
I love this film, it is without doubt one of my favourite films!
I love the story and thought that Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler were the perfect choices for the lead... Read more
I love the story and thought that Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler were the perfect choices for the lead... Read more
Published 2 months ago by La Femme Savante
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellant DVD
I bought this film after seeing the opera live from the Royal Opera house at the local Vue cinema. It is a very good film, I enjoyed it.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Barbara Halsall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant; Recommended.
I really enjoyed the poem and I thought this film version converted it excellently. I loved the shots of the Russian countryside, the interiors of houses, the icy St... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mary Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 13 months ago by B. Stefan
4.0 out of 5 stars
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 18 months ago by Eugene Onegin
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 20 months ago by paul kilpatrick
1.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 17 May 2011 by Le Grand Barbare
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