Storyline

A retired professor has returned to his estate to live with his beautiful young wife, Yelena. The estate originally belonged to his first wife, now deceased; her mother and brother still live there and manage the farm. For many years the brother (Uncle Vanya) has sent the farm's proceeds to the professor, while receiving only a small salary himself. Sonya, the professor's daughter, who is about the same age as his new wife, also lives on the estate. The professor is pompous, vain, and irritable. He calls the doctor (Astrov) to treat his gout, only to send him away without seeing him. Astrov is an experienced physician who performs his job conscientiously, but has lost all idealism and spends much of his time drinking. The presence of Yelena introduces a bit of sexual tension into the household. Astrov and Uncle Vanya both fall in love with Yelena; she spurns them both. Meanwhile, Sonya is in love with Astrov, who fails even to notice her. Finally, when the professor announces he wants to sell the estate, Vanya, whose admiration for the man died with his sister, tries to kill him.—Appelsla

Plot Keywords

professor, old house, thunderstorm, remarriage, stepmother stepdaughter relationship, stepmother, midlife crisis, disappointment, bitterness, unrequited love, based on play, vodka, estate, love, uncle, sexual tension, tension, doctor, russia, rural setting

Short Review

Accomplished Russian film adaptation of Chekov's Uncle Vanya. Woody Allen calls this "the best Vanya" and it may be. Well performed, well filmed, funny. Of course it's Chekov so it sometimes move at a ... stately ... pace. I wouldn't consider it especially slow, though, unless you're conditioned to American action movies and romantic comedies.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership