Onegin (Import, All Regions)

This is Pushkin's story about Tatiana, a young, naive girl who is swept off her feet by Onegin, a handsome young stranger who comes to visit along with her older sister Olga's fiance Lensky. Tatiana and her sister live with their mother on a large estate outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. Lensky lives on a neighboring estate, and Onegin is his new friend who has just inherited his uncle's neighboring estate.Onegin is a blase, irresponsible, and too-rich young man who scandalizes his new neighbors when he says he intends to give each of his tenant farmers their own farm. Onegin is not really a radical social reformer, he's just too damned lazy to run the estate himself.That night, Tatiana can't sleep because of her fascination with this new neighbor. After passing the night in self-torturing romantic agony, she impulsively dashes off a letter pledging her undying love to Onegin, and quickly gives it to a courier before she has a chance to change her mind.That morning Onegin appears at the door, and in the only decent thing he does in the story, lets Tatiana down gently, saying they could never make it together because of their very dissimilar natures. Tatiana, of course, is devastated.Things come to a head at Lensky's and Olga's engagement ball, when Onegin shamelessly flirts with his friend's fiancee and acts so boorishly that the hot-headed Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel. Onegin has obviously done this before, and next morning handily dispatches his new best friend. But now Onegin realizes with horror what he's done, and realizes that the silly game of life he's been playing can have real, disastrous consequences.Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler are perfectly cast as Onegin and Tatiana, as are Toby Stephens as Lensky, and all the other members of the cast. The filming in and around St. Petersburg, Russia soon after the fall of the USSR is spectacular, on a par with "Doctor Zhivago" (which was filmed in Spain, complete with fake snow).There are interesting interviews-with and making-of featurettes that you should also watch. The only distraction I found was that all the verbiage surrounding the feature is in Korean. There are Korean subtitles for the movie. But once you are inside the feature, all navigation is in English.

I seen this movie several years ago when I lived in England. I looked everywhere once I arrived back state side and couldn't find it. I was so pleased that I was able to purchase it. It's everything I remembered. Glad that I purchased it.

Having never read the novel in verse on which this is based, I regard the story by its own merit. 'Onegin' is a haunting, passionate, beautiful, and unforgettable tale of unrequited love. The film follows the tragic story of Evgene Onegin (Ralph Fiennes), a Russian playboy who catches the eye of innocent Tatyana (Liv Tyler). Rejecting her confession of love, Onegin is lead to commit a spontanious action which leads to eventual tragedy, his seperation from Tatyana, and their reunion years later after her marriage to his cousin, a czar. The film ends with a powerful climax very different from most productions of this nature.With lush costuming, beautiful cinematography, and rock-solid performances from a fantastic cast, 'Onegin' is an unusual kind of film. Moving along at a measured pace, it demands patience but also evokes obsession. We cringe at the inevitable, shed a few tears, and cheer at the final conflict. It's a story of love, tragedy, circumstance, and choices. I came into it with sincere doubt, certain my hopes would be dashed. For once I was pleasantly surprised at the restraint and dignity shown in the production and its conclusion. When all other aspects are stripped away, it becomes a tale of a woman's honor. It's not a subject often breached, and for this element alone hold my admiration and praise.It also has one of the most stunningly picturesque and yet chillingly horrific dueling scenes I've ever witnessed on film. The emotion and intensity of the tragic cold winter morning on the docks builds to an inevitable climax and shows the profound sorrow that follows in the wake of a terrible mistake. I much appreciated witnessing the victor's anger, frustration, and sorrow over what he was forced to do in order to defend his good name. Was the outcome by chance or intention? Perhaps we'll never know.Fiennes' sister directed the film and his claims that she has a "sensual power" over the camera are true. Every frame is full of romantic intensity. I do question her reasoning for moments of complete silence and the soundtrack at times is grating on the nerves, but overall I was very impressed.

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 many stories in this genre; it does not have a happy ending... In fact; several lives are ruined because of it.The performances of all are quite excellent - Liv Tyler in particular shines as she plays the part as sincere as any actress could ever get. Of course, the good looks of Ralph Fiennes goes a long way to help, but it's more than just 'easy on the eye', and not to be confused with any type of simple 'Mills & Boon' romance. This is a much deeper and emotional ride.There's some gorgeous scenes in this; heart-stoppers and pure dramatic - and I guess many will be familiar with the scenario poor 'Tatyana' puts herself in when writing to 'Onegin' and awaiting his reaction to it. This is a situation that is perhaps more common in our more liberal and modern times - but most certainly not in those days, and as a result, makes for interesting viewing - and waiting!I once saw the Ballet/Opera version of this years ago and thought it might make a good movie, but it's not easy to bring this kind of Art to the Silver Screen, and though it can be done, so seldom is, but 'Onegin' is proof that the British still can do it - sadly though, not so often these days.A real 'gem' of a Picture and definitely a 'must see'!

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 and money. Firstly and most importantly, it is true to the original text with Fiennes excelling as the bored aristocrat full of lassitude, cynical of romantic attachments and Liv Tyler effective as the elusive but strangely fascinating country girl Tatiana. There is no sensationalism here, no dreadful updating of story or setting-many scenes were filmed on location in St Petersburg. Best of all, director Martha Fiennes makes this a film of the interior emotions allowing the story to unfold with an economy of dialogue and very little musical backdrop which serves to add additional power to the sense of loss and hopelessness which pervades the doomed love affair. The film is also notable for the impact of certain key scenes notably the tense duel between Onegin and Lensky and the great final encounter of the lovers which truly evokes the tragedy of the phrase 'It's too late'. With good supporting performances and high production values this is a must see for all fans of good filmaking as well as lovers of Eugene Onegin.

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.

Rarely seen a piece of classical Russian literature played on silver screen. This is very well done from all aspects. Ralph Fiennes is a fine actor as a cynical and jaded Russian aristo. You really could feel his pain at the end when he was rejected by Liv Tyler... The film was directed by Martha Fiennes with remarkable skill and such subtle touch. For example, in one scene the sound was suppressed when hysterical cries were expected from three women who were devastated by the death of their friend Lensky. There was dispute whether Onegin deliberately shoots to kill Lensky during the duel sequence. But what could be a better alternative? The story would have developed in a completely different direction should the duel end in another way.The location and the interior design of the setting are evocative of the period. This is a must-see for the lovers of Russian classics (interpreted by English actors).

A skilful, intelligent, dramatic and highly passionate performance by Ralph Fiennes throughout; this wonderful enactment of Pushkin's Epic poem is set in Russia in freezing temperatures with powerful supportive romantic Russian music, that combine to express visually and audibly some of the deepest emotions a human can experience - intense mental and physical love, inexplicable and hurtful rejection and tragic lifelong regret and loneliness. At the same time you can physically feel the coldness of the scene as much as you can the coldness of the protagonist's heart. Liv Tyler is spectacular in every way. The viewer is weighed down by the depth of emotion at every turn to the extent that one is left with a feeling of intense injustice which has me in a state of troubled anxiety for days after. We feel her pain and we feel his loss and nothing can be done about it. I always need a stiff drink after watching this. It is, by far, my most favourite film of all times.