The Cherry Orchard (1999)

Madame Ranevskaya (Rampling) is a spoiled aging aristocratic lady, who returns from a trip to Paris to face the loss of her magnificent Cherry Orchard estate after a default on the mortgage... See full summary »

Director:

Mihalis Kakogiannis

Writers:

Anton Chekhov (play), Mihalis Kakogiannis (screenplay)

Stars:

Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, Katrin Cartlidge

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlotte Rampling	...	Ranyevskaya
Alan Bates	...	Gayev
Katrin Cartlidge	...	Varya
Owen Teale	...	Lopahin
Tushka Bergen	...	Anya
Xander Berkeley	...	Yepihodov
Gerard Butler	...	Yasha (as Gerald Butler)
Andrew Howard	...	Trofimov
Melanie Lynskey	...	Dunyasha
Ian McNeice	...	Pishchik
Frances de la Tour	...	Charlotte Ivanovna
Michael Gough	...	Feers
Simeon Victorov	...	Doridanov
Itzhak Finzi	...	Stranger
Ivan Pangelov	...	French priest

Storyline

Madame Ranevskaya (Rampling) is a spoiled aging aristocratic lady, who returns from a trip to Paris to face the loss of her magnificent Cherry Orchard estate after a default on the mortgage. In denial, she continues living in the past, deluding herself and her family, while the beautiful cherry trees are being axed down by the re-possessor Lopakhin (Teale), her former serf, who has his own agenda.

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Plot Keywords:

serf | estate | cherry orchard | tree | mortgage | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Greece France Cyprus

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 January 2000 (France)

Also Known As:

La cerisaie

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,738 (USA) (22 February 2002)

Gross:

$131,188 (USA) (4 October 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melanda Film Productions, Greek Film Center, Amanda Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Helen Mirren was supposed to play the part of Ranyevskaya, eventually played by Charlotte Rampling. She was involved with the project from the very beginning and even attended the rehearsals. But when director 'Michael Cacoyannis' announced that no one was to leave Bulgaria during the 3 months of filming she pulled out.

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Connections

Version of Der Kirschgarten (1966)

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Soundtracks

"String Quartet No 3"
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Chamber Orchestra Kremlin
Conducted by Misha Rachlevsky

User Reviews

It's a frustrating way to have to see Chekhov's excellent play.

Michael Cacoyannis seems strangely reluctant to tell this story in a straightforward, understandable fashion. This ridiculously edited film rates a 7 out of 10 only because it does, in its idiosyncratic way, convey something of the story of a Russian woman, of the landed gentry, fallen on hard times, who is desperately seeking to preserve the ownership of her estate, on which is an ancient and beloved cherry orchard. If she is forced to sell, the orchard will be cut down and the estate "developed" into "affordable housing". So what else is new, eh?

By all, this is the choppiest editing and directing style I have ever encountered. Chekhov's play is certainly not constructed this way. There is no effort to introduce characters in an orderly fashion so that one may get to know who they are, and what their relationships and motivations are. Some of this eventually emerges if you are patient and alert enough, but don't blink! Some of the cast work is excellent. They must have been frustrated, though, if they knew what kind of editing would appear in the final cut.