An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano (1977)

In Imperial Russia, the nobility has its own entertainments, disputes and worries.

Director:

Nikita Mikhalkov

Writers:

Aleksandr Adabashyan (as A. Adabashyan), Anton Chekhov (play) (as A. P. Chekhov)

Stars:

Aleksandr Kalyagin, Elena Solovey, Evgeniya Glushenko

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Aleksandr Kalyagin	...	Mikhail Vassilyevich Platonov
Elena Solovey	...	Sophia Yegorovna
Evgeniya Glushenko	...	Sashenka
Antonina Shuranova	...	Anna Petrovna Voynitseva
Yuriy Bogatyryov	...	Sergey Pavlovich Voynitsev
Oleg Tabakov	...	Pavel Petrovich Shcherbuk
Nikolai Pastukhov	...	Porfiriy Semyonovich Glagolyev
Pavel Kadochnikov	...	Ivan Ivanovich Triletskiy
Nikita Mikhalkov	...	Nikolay Ivanovich Triletskiy
Anatoliy Romashin	...	Gerasim Kuzmich Petrin
Natalya Nazarova	...	Verochka
Kseniya Minina	...	Lizochka
Sergey Nikonenko	...	Yakov
Sergei Guryev	...	Petechka (as Seryozha Guryev)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Svetlana Bashlykova	...	(as S. Bashlykova)

Storyline

Early in the 20th century, family and friends gather at the country estate of a general's widow, Anna Petrovna. Sofia, the new wife of Anna's step-son, recognizes Misha, the brother-in-law of one of the widow's admirers: a few years before, they had been idealistic lovers and now she can't believe he has settled for a dim wife and a job as a teacher. Amidst parlor games and idle talk of women's rights and peasants' capabilities, Sofia and Misha rekindle their love. Will they flaunt convention, abandon families, and run away to pursue lost dreams? Rescue comes from an unexpected place.

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Plot Keywords:

love | russia | upper class | old love | thirty something | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene towards the end of the film where Platonov storms down a hallway, he walks past a person just to his right who is clearly a crew member wearing modern clothing and holding a piece of equipment.

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Connections

Referenced in Vdud: Nikita Mikhalkov (2018)

User Reviews

unfortunately, a little known masterpiece

I'm afraid that my poor english will not let me to tell how wonderful and profound movie is this. The actors are brilliant, the script is perfect, the recreation of the atmosphere is a totally success, the dramatic turn is magnific directed, this movie is an all time masterpiece. Believe me! Oh, those Russians!

Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

5 September 1977 (Soviet Union)

Also Known As:

Platanov

Filming Locations:

Pushchino-Na-Oke, Usad'ba Pushchino, Pushchino, Moscow Oblast, Russia, 142290

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,047

Company Credits

Production Co:

Inter Allianz Film, Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1