ONEGIN

UK, 1999, 106 minutes, Colour.
Ralph Fiennes, Liv Tyler, Toby Stephens, Lena Headey, Harriet Walter, Simon Mc Burney, Irene Worth, Alun Armstrong.
Directed by Martha Fiennes.

Onegin is the central character from Alexander Pushkin’s poem, the subject of a number of books as well as Tchaikovsky’s opera, Eugene Onegin.

This film has been directed by Martha Fiennes, sister of Ralph and Joseph Fiennes. Ralph Fiennes is the star and gives an impressive performance, especially for a character who is melancholic, jaded by St Petersburg society, ephemeral in his relationships. The film is stylish in its presentation of Russian society and its lifestyle.

When Onegin inherits a property from his uncle in the country, he comes across a family and is attracted to one of the daughters, Tatiana, Liv Tyler. In the meantime his friend, Toby Stephens, is in love with the other daughter, Lena Heady. Their ambitious mother is played by Harriet Walter.

Misunderstandings lead to a duel and the death of his friend and his decision to depart Russia and tour the world. In the meantime, Tatiana has married even though she still loves Onegin.

When he eventually returns, he discovers Tatiana married and bound to honour her husband. There is nothing left to him but resignation and accepting his fate.

1. A film version of Pushkin? 19th-century Russia? Life in Russia, city, countryside? 19th-century perspectives, tradition, winds of change? An apt portrait of Russian society?

2. The production, the Fiennes family and their involvement, acting, direction, musical school?

3. The re-creation of St Petersburg, the beauty of the city, the buildings, the river? The interiors and affluence? The countryside? Fields, homes, isolation from the city?

4. The introduction to Onegin, his place in society, his age, experience, sense of boredom, and innovation, ennui, his friends and discussions, music, wealth, relationships, morose? His future?

5. The reading of his uncle’s will, the inheritance, his visit, his friendship with Vladimir, Vladimir and his poetry? Visiting the house, meeting the staff, the servants, the issue of the serfs and their freedom, local reactions against such freedom?

6. Meeting the family, the mother and her traditions, her marriage, arrangement, confined to the country, making do with it? concerned for her daughters? The welcome? The discussions with his friend, the introduction to his fiancee?

7. The two daughters, Olga, Tatiana, the contrast between the two? At home? Olga extroverted, her fiance, going to the dance, her exuberance? The contrast with Tatiana, introverted, reading the books, borrowing them?

8. Onegin and his clash with his friend, Vladimir feeling insulted, the issue of his fiancee? The challenge to the duel? Onegin not believing in duels, his reluctant acceptance? Going to the site, the challenge from Vladimir and his agent? The rituals of the duel? The paces, the turning, the shooting, Vladimir killed? The effect on Onegin?

9. Tatiana, falling in love with Onegin, writing the letter, Onegin’s caution in reply, his not wanting to be tied down, to one woman, his not being able to imagine marriage for himself? The tension between the two? The effect of the duel? Tatiana and her quiet passion?

10. Onegin and his travel, the passing of the years, the change, changes in society, return to St Petersburg?

11. Meeting his cousin, the bond between the two, seeing Tatiana at the reception, discovering that she was his cousin’s wife, the effect?

12. Tatiana, age, change, traditions and her submission to her husband, yet her love for Onegin, then meeting, declarations, his yearning and needs, a decision?

13. Onegin, his experience, finally falling in love, lost, melancholia?

14. The family, the visit to the old Countess, her manner, her advice?

15. An atmospheric film, study and portrait of a character? A British interpretation of Russia in the 19th-century?