Pique Dame

A lonely and impoverished old general becomes obsessed with a secret about a winning card hand known only to a Countess. Driven by greed and desperation, he relentlessly pursues this knowledge, leading him down a path of madness and destruction. His relentless pursuit culminates in a tragic encounter with the spectral Countess, and he is ultimately consumed by his own desires.

The film is a landmark of early Russian cinema, celebrated for its psychological depth and atmospheric horror. It is considered a significant adaptation of Pushkin's story, praised for its visual style and the lead actor's powerful performance. While specific modern critical aggregated scores are unavailable, it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of its era.

• A visually striking and psychologically intense early silent film.

• Praised for its masterful adaptation of Pushkin's classic tale.

• The performance by Ivan Mozzhukhin is considered a highlight.

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The film was shot in Russia during a tumultuous period of revolution and civil war, yet it managed to be completed and is now considered one of the most significant surviving films from that era of Russian cinema.