Onegin
A haunting tale of lost love and past regrets.
I didn't have high expectations of this film but was happy I watched it because it was stunning. Onegin is about a Russian dandy who is tired of his meaningless life of parties and concerts. He inherits his uncle's country estate and moves there for a while where he befriends a young, idealistic man (Toby Stephens). Onegin is introduced to Lensky's finance, Olga, and her family. Tatyana (Olga's sister) falls in love with Onegin and professes her feelings in a heartfelt letter. Onegin rejects her love with a long speech, which is quite patronising, and says that she will move on and find someone worthy of her love. This all happens in the middle of Tatyana's name day celebration and Onegin decides to add fuel to the fire by dancing and flirting with Olga. Big mistake. Lensky is deeply insulted and challenges Onegin to a duel which leads to devastating consequences. Filled with remorse, Onegin leaves abruptly and travels the world for several years in an attempt to forget the tragedy. Upon his return to Moscow he attends a lavish party and sees a beautiful woman who is none other than Tatyana, now married to an aristocrat who just so happens to be Onegin's cousin. He falls hopelessly in love with her and tries to persuade her to be with him but she rejects his advances, remaining loyal to her husband even though she loves Onegin.
Ralph Fiennes was very convincing as the cold and cynical Onegin who is weary of life and finds little pleasure in anything. You wonder what has made him this way because he seems truly devoid of emotion. Lensky is his opposite - naive, passionate and in love. They make unlikely friends but the contrast in personalities is what stands out and you can't help but feel that Onegin does value this friendship even though he doesn't show it. Toby Stephens was excellent as usual and made his character very likeable despite his idealistic nature and foolish challenge of a duel. Liv Tyler was stunning as Tatyana, exuding elegance and shyness effortlessly. You do wonder why she even falls in love with Onegin in the first place since he is so cold to her and hardly sees her.
The duel is the focal point of the film and I thought it was so unnecessary. Neither Onegin or Lensky wanted to participate but deadly etiquette dictates that you follow through regardless. Fiennes was scarily calm during the duel but he seemed genuinely upset once he discovered he had killed Lensky. I never understood the point of duels. It was hardly an effective way of resolving issues between men.
The ending was deeply poignant and both Tyler and Fiennes executed it perfectly. I thought it was visually beautiful - the white room, Tatyana dressed in white and Onegin in black. The contrast of colours represents the two characters - Tatyana is pure whilst Onegin is corrupt. He has become a victim of his own doing, living a meaningless life and never finding love or friendship. He is doomed to be lonely for the rest of his life and that is his tragedy.