Saturday, 18 September 2021 19:04

Oblomov/ Several Days in the Life of I.I. Oblomov






OBLOMOV (SEVERAL DAYS IN THE LIFE OF I.I.OBLOMOV)

USSR, 1981, 145 minutes, Colour.
Oleg Tabakov, Elena Solovei.
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov

Oblomov (Several Days in the Life of I.I.Oblomov) is an adaptation of a 19th century novel by Ivan A. Goncharov. It has been brought to the screen by Nikita Mikhalkov (director of such period dramas as Slave of Love).

The film creates the atmosphere of tsarist times: St. Petersburgh, country estates. The film focuses on a retired civil servant - who is young enough to have a potential but who has opted out of active involvement and who seems to drift through life. In retrospect, the character of Oblomov seems to be a symbol of the 19th century Russian who found life easy while many were oppressed under the regime of the tsars.

The film has an attractive look about it - re-creating the beauty of the period. However, there is a wry humour and irony about the presentation of this character.

1. An entertaining Russian film? 19th century period? Exploration of a character? Comment on 19th century Russia? From the vantage point of the Soviet Union and its ideology?

2. An adaptation of a 19th century novel, the sweep of the 19th century, the contrast by way of focusing on particular episodes in the experience of Oblomov?

3. Production values: colour, sets and decor, pace and editing? Re-creating the 19th century? Musical score?

4. The adaptation of the novel: the title and the reference to several days? A cinematic focus for a novel?

5. The portrait of Oblomov in the two parts of the film: a 19th century Russian, the background of his wealth, estates and serfs, money management? St. Petersburgh and the Civil Service? His retirement? Lazy and sleepy? Indolent lifestyle? His friendship with Stolz? The threat of eviction? Problems on the estate? His dreams and the reality? Stolz enlivening him? The visits, the sauna discussion, the introduction to Olga, her singing? The effect on him? Enlivening and bewildering? In part 2: Zakhar and his service? The attraction towards Olga, the villa, sharing, his plans? Love? his hearing of Olga's suitor? Confusion about his love and proposal? His continuing indolence, inaction? The passing of time? The return of Stolz, the tricycle, his not wanting to ride, Olga's ride? Lost opportunities? His drifting away from Olga? The irony of the oblique presentation of his death? The background of his marriage, the landlady, his son? Fading away? His potential, regrets? Portrait of an eccentric character?

6. Stolz as his friend, his liveliness, sharing friendship, challenging Oblomov, discussions? Introduction to Olga? His going to Paris? The importance of his return, the symbol of the tricycle and the riding? Falling in love with Olga, marriage? Their looking after Oblomov's son?

7. Olga: attractive, singing, friendship with Stolz, her influence on Oblomov, her capacity for influencing his life and changing it, the ups and downs in their relationship, her suitors, Oblomov drifting away? Her marrying Stolz?

8. Zakhar and his service of Oblomov, advice, support?

9. The theme of romantic longings, reality and unreality, failure and regrets? The critique by a succeeding generation?

10. The comment on Russia, the 19th. century, elegance, decadence and failure, possibilities?

11. Audience sympathy with Oblomov: his appearance, behaviour? The symbol of ordinary failure?


More in this category: « O Lucky Man Obsession »