SAKHAROV

UK, 1984, 120 minutes, Colour.
Glenda Jackson, Jason Robards, Michael Bryant.
Directed by Jack Gold.

Sakharov is a biography and a tribute to the eminent Soviet scientist and campaigner for human rights who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The film, English-made, was produced for American cable television. Veteran director Jack Gold (Man Friday, National Health, Stones for Ibara) directs effectively and the cast, led by Jason Robards who seems to fit the role of Sakharov well, is English with Glenda Jackson as Ilena Bonner, Frank Finlay as the manager of the laboratories and Nichol Williamson as a party chief. Anna Massey and Paul Freeman have supporting roles.

The film was made in Austria standing in for the Russian cities and for Siberia. The film is set from the mid-1960s to the early '80s, focusing on Sakharov as an eminent scientist, the beginnings of his protest for civil rights, his publication of articles outside the Soviet Union, the persecution and his being stripped of his status, his marriage to Ilena Bonner and his imprisonment.

The film-makers were not to know that glasnost was to emerge very soon, that there would be a complete change of attitude in the Soviet Union, that Sakharov would be freed and take his place in the Soviet parliament.

1. Interesting and entertaining telemovie? Of the '80s? Pre-glasnost? Pro-Sakharov?

2. The Austrian locations standing in for the Soviet Union? The city and apartments? The countryside, Siberia? The Soviet Union and the atmosphere of the '60s and '70s? Audience knowledge of the Soviet Union? The stances taken? The musical score - and Albinone's Adagio?

3. The film with its British background, designed for American audiences? The cast? Audience knowledge of Sakharov, his place in the Soviet Union, leading the dissidents, the Nobel Peace Prize?

4. The portrait of Sakharov and his commitment? Jason Robards fitting the character? The background of his life, his achievement in science, nuclear science, honours? His personality, the strength of his marriage, the illness of his wife and his attention to her, her death, his visiting her grave? The beginnings of dissidence and protest? His concern, thinking through the issues, human rights in the Soviet Union, supporting the authors, going to demonstrations and being filmed, his presence at various trials? His mixing with the dissident group, the bonds growing between him and them?

5. The background of his career, officials criticising him, working in the laboratories, his relationship with the manager? His being sacked? Signing petitions, organising petitions? Further discussions, interrogations, arrest? His writing articles and their being published outside the Soviet Union? The effect of being held by the authorities, the effect on his health? The repercussions for the family, decisions for them to move overseas? Ilena Bonner and her health, her eyes, the problems in getting the visa for her to go to Italy, interrogations? His not being allowed outside the country? The Nobel Peace Prize? The importance of his visiting Siberia with his wife? The dissident and the plight of the prisoners in Siberia? His downfall in the Soviet Union, house arrest?

6. Ilena Bonner and her presence in the group, dissidents and friends, her eye trouble from the war? Going to the court cases? Her friendship with Sakharov, discussions? The proposal and marriage? The bonds in the families? Domestic sequences? The visit to Siberia? Her eyes, her doctor friend, the impossibility of the operation being done, the difficulties in getting out of the Soviet Union, her visa for Italy? Going to the Nobel Awards? Her speech and encompassing her husband's ideals?

7. The dissident group, their backgrounds, meetings, authors? Tactics? Being under surveillance? In the courtrooms? The petitions, the publications, the arrests? The farcical aspects of the trials? Sentenced to Siberia, hardships in Siberia?

8. The laboratories, scientific investigations, the laboratory head, friendship with Sakharov, political pressure, letting Sakharov go?

9. The Soviet hierarchy, officials, stances, changes from the '60s to the '80s? Interrogations? Disdain for Sakharov?

10. The picturing of the trials, evidence, witnesses, the attitude of the judges, party lines, farcical aspects?

11. Siberia, remoteness, hardships of exile and imprisonment?

12. The ideological background of the Soviet Union, the hard line periods, relaxation? The possibility of being a dissident?

13. The role of the press within the Soviet Union, international press, publications and interviews?

14. The significance of Sakharov receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, his contribution to changes in the USSR.

15. Sakharov and glasnost changes? his vindication?