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King Lear (1971 USSR film)
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Wikipedia article
'King Lear' is a 1971 Soviet drama film directed by Grigori Kozintsev, based on William Shakespeare's play 'King Lear'. The film uses Boris Pasternak's translation of the play, while the Fool's songs are translated by Samuil Marshak. This was the last of Grigori Kozintsev's films.
Production
Grigori Kozintsev considered many actors for the role of Lear. The casting director first suggested Jri Jrvet for the small part of a tramp, but Kozintsev offered him the title role. He later explained: "The internal world of this actor seemed attractive to me. This is an actor of deep thought. He is able to play the role with philosophical depth. Jrvet is equally strong in humour, in that particular sort of humour that sometimes touches upon grotesque". Jrvet was only 50 years old by the time of filming.
The role of Goneril is portrayed by Latvian actress Elza Radzia, who also appeared in Kozintsev's Hamlet as Gertrude. Radzina was one of the co-founders of the Sovremennik Theatre. The role of Regan went to Galina Volchek, whose casting was first met with some skepticism but went on to be a success. The relatively unknown Valentina Shendrikova of the Mayakovsky Theatre plays Cordelia. Oleg Dahl, one of the stars of the Sovremennik Theatre, was chosen to play the Fool without an audition, after a short conversation with the director. His performance received wide critical acclaim. Kozintsev also incorporated a number of experienced theatre actors from Latvia and Lithuania: Donatas Banionis as Albany, Krlis Sebris as Gloucester, Leonhard Merzin as Edgar, and Regimantas Adomaitis as Edmund. The role of Oswald went to then-unknown Aleksei Petrenko.
The film was shot primarily in Narva and Ivangorod. Its extensive set of houses and streets was built inside the Ivangorod Fortress, which was under reconstruction at the time of filming. The film's scenic designers were Evgeny Eney and Vsevolod Ulitko; its costumes were created by the chief designer of the Bolshoi Theatre Simon Virsaladze. Dmitri Shostakovich composed the score.
Cast
* Jri Jrvet as King Lear (voiced by Zinovy Gerdt)
* Elza Radzia as Goneril (voiced by Nina Nikitina)
* Galina Volchek as Regan
* Valentina Shendrikova as Cordelia
* Oleg Dahl as Fool
* Krlis Sebris as Gloucester (voiced by Grigori Gay)
* Leonhard Merzin as Edgar (voiced by Emmanuil Vitorgan)
* Regimantas Adomaitis as Edmund
* Vladimir Yemelyanov as Kent
* Aleksandr Vokach as Cornwall
* Donatas Banionis as Albany (voiced by Aleksandr Demyanenko)
* Aleksei Petrenko as Oswald
* Juozas Budraitis as King of France
Accolades
* Tehran International Film Festival (1972): Grand Prix (Grigori Kozintsev) and Best Actor Award (Jri Jrvet)
* Chicago International Film Festival (1972): Silver Hugo for Best Director (Grigori Kozintsev)
* Milan International Film Festival (1973): Golden Medal (Grigori Kozintsev)
See also
* List of historical drama films
References
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