Onegin - thoughts and picspam
Onegin, a Russian epic with Liv Tyler and Voldemort Ralph Fiennes, had only recently popped up on my to-watch list before I snapped it up. A Russian romance with Liv Tyler in Victorian costumes and lots of Russian scenery? I'm in!
Onegin, roughly pronounced Oh-NYAY-gun (my poor little American tongue!), is a classic Russian epic. You get superb acting, gorgeous winter scenes, and dueling. It is a very slow paced, quiet, and dreamy sort of movie. But sad, very, very sad. There is an aura of doom over all the characters and you know from the beginning that something horrible is going to happen, but it doesn't stop you from hoping so you get crushed each time the plot twists.
(made by selineless @ tumblr)
Ralph Fiennes plays the title character, a Russian aristocrat who lolls through Petersburg society as a no-good playboy. The death of his uncle sends him back into the country to run his new estate. Diverted by the "quaintness" of his new country neighbors Onegin decides to spend the winter in the country.
Liv Tyler plays the enchanting Tatiana, a shy, quiet girl who falls in love with the worldly Onegin through the borrowing of a book. Added to the mix are Tatiana's more bubbly sister, Olga, and Vladmir Lensky (played by Toby Stephens), Olga's fiancee and Onegin's best friend.
Onegin is a Scarlett O'Hara sort of character. You despise him and feel sorry for him at the same time but feel that he brought his sorrow on himself. Within the first ten minutes you are slammed in the face with his... habits. Its not too graphic but I am scarred for life by the image of Onegin sticking his tongue out to lick a courtesan's bare toes. You don't see the rest of the prostitute but you get the idea... Ick. *reachs for brain bleach*
Besides that one scene (which lasted probably 5 seconds), the content is minimal. There is some kissing and cuddling between husband and wife in bed, but it isn't too bad. A bit of blood comes in the dueling scene as well. Onegin draws a number of rude drawings that can easily be avoided just by looking away for a moment. I've had quite enough of obscene little boys and their drawings, thank you very much.
The acting is all amazing, Toby Stephens did an especially great job and I can't wait to see him in Jane Eyre, which I have in my queue. The actors brought their characters to life, and portrayed them as real people, even if I did want to reach through the screen and slap them a few times. Liv Tyler was not as good as other times I've seen her, but that might have been just because of the limitations of her character.
The soundtrack was very lovely, a perfect fit for the stark winter scenery. I understood and appreciated the combination of music and silence, but the way breathing and crying was heightened in some places was very annoying. Perhaps that was what turned me off Liv Tyler's performance, her character does a lot of sighing and sniffling that drove me nuts!
The plot is very slow, spanning several years. It is an excellent movie to watch while doing the ironing or surfing the internet. Although it is slow, and rather depressing, Onegin is a beautiful piece of art that I thoroughly enjoyed.
