Doctor Zhivago (TV 2002)

Young and beautiful Lara is loved by three men: a revolutionary, a mogul, and a doctor. Their lives become intertwined with the drama of Russian revolution. Doctor Zhivago is still married ... See full summary »

Director:

Giacomo Campiotti

Writers:

Boris Pasternak (novel), Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Sam MacLintock, Keira Knightley, Sam Neill

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sam MacLintock	...	Little Yury
Keira Knightley	...	Lara Antipova (neé Guishar)
Bill Paterson	...	Alexander Gromyko
Celia Imrie	...	Anna Gromyko
Sam Neill	...	Victor Komarovsky
Daniella Byrne	...	Little Tonya
Nick Stewart	...	Orthodox Priest
Hans Matheson	...	Yury Zhivago
Alexandra Maria Lara	...	Tonya Gromyko Zhivago
Jeremy Clyde	...	Professor
Daniele Liotti	...	Misha Gordon
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Olya Demina
Maryam d'Abo	...	Amalia Guishar
Robert Orr	...	Agitator
Kris Marshall	...	Pasha Antipov / Strelnikov

Storyline

Young and beautiful Lara is loved by three men: a revolutionary, a mogul, and a doctor. Their lives become intertwined with the drama of Russian revolution. Doctor Zhivago is still married when he meets Lara. Their love story is unfolding against the backdrop of revolution which affects the doctor's career, his family, and his love to Lara.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | female nudity | russia | obsessive love | bare breasts | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official PBS/Masterpiece Theatre Web site

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Docteur Jivago

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

E-Vision, Epsilon TV Production, Granada Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

226 min 226 min (3 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Andrea Corr was originally offered the role of Lara Antipova, but she turned it down.

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Quotes

Misha Gordon: [to Lara] These are yours. His poems. We're all in there, all our lives, all these terrible times. But most of all, you.

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Connections

Version of Doctor Zhivago (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Korobochka"
Russian traditional
At the wedding party of Zhivago and Tonya

User Reviews

Exceptional acting by one veteran and three "unknowns"

I've never seen the original Dr Zhivago movie, so I won't be comparing one to the other. I just want to say that I loved this, and that everything about it was excellent, in particular the acting.

Hans Matheson from Les Miserables and Still Crazy was very impressive as Yury Zhivago, a young man torn between his loving wife - whose family raised him - and Lara - the war nurse he has fallen for. Matheson handles the role very well, and ages well from Zhivago's youth to his older years.

Sam Neill, as usual, is perfect as Komarovsky, Lara's evil seducer, and the man who drove Yury's father to suicide. He plays the villain of the piece like the pro he is. You'll love to hate him.

The real surprise in this series was Kiera Knightley as Lara. Taking on a role like this, made famous by Julie Christie, at only 17 was frowned upon by several people, but this teenager has proven that she is more than capable. In fact, she is one of the best things about this, entirely believable as Lara, both young and old, handling some of the more "embarrassing" scenes with maturity and professionalism. It's hard to believe that the actors who play her children aren't much more than ten years younger than herself! I thought she was impressive in The Hole and Bend it Like Beckham, but this is - in my opinion - her best performance to date.

Another shock came from Kris Marshall - best known for his role as the dopey son in My Family. He shines in this as the idealistic young revolutionary who pines after Lara, to her husband, insanely jealous of Komorovsky, to the ruthless revolutionary leader. There is far more to this guy than meets the eye.

All the supporting characters and their actors - Alexandra Maria Lara (Tonya), and Hugh Bonneville (Zhivago's father) to name a few - are all good in their roles as well.

If this is ever on TV again, in whatever country, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. A definite 10/10.