Fyodor Lavretski, estranged from his unfaithful wife returns to his childhood home. He falls in love with a young relative, Elizaveta (Liza) Kalitina, who returns his love, but loses her when his wife suddenly turns up. Liza decides to become a nun.
Konchalovski's film is freely based on "motifs" from Turgenev's novel - the main characters are still Lavretski and Liza, but many details on Lavretski's life have been added. The actors are all excellent, down to the children, but one must especially mention the young Irina Kupchenko, radiant and sensitive as the serious Liza. Visually, the film is a treat, with Northern summer days and nights.
Konchalovski's film is freely based on "motifs" from Turgenev's novel - the main characters are still Lavretski and Liza, but many details on Lavretski's life have been added. The actors are all excellent, down to the children, but one must especially mention the young Irina Kupchenko, radiant and sensitive as the serious Liza. Visually, the film is a treat, with Northern summer days and nights.