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Yudishka Golovlyov
Film adaptation of The Golovlyov Family ("Господа Головлёвы), a classic novel by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. In the mid-19th century old-fashioned estate based on serfdom laws and traditions, tough and shrewd Arina Petrovna tries her best to make her realm prosper and even expand – despite unwillingness of her husband and three of her four children to lend helping hands... Ten years on, serfdom abolished, and now Porfiry-Yudishka, the epitome of a corrupt, cruel hypocrite, becomes the heir to the estate. Dullness and horrors of life, spent in destroying everybody around him, finally makes him to slowly realize things went somehow wrong. Half-mad, apparently, he goes to the cemetery to "ask for forgiveness" from his mother Arina Petrovna, and dies somewhere along his way, his frozen corpse found the next day.
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Plot Summary
Based on Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin's novel, the film follows Porfiry Golovlyov, a man consumed by greed and hypocrisy, known for his manipulative nature. He systematically isolates and ruins his family through his callousness and self-serving actions. The narrative portrays the disintegration of a noble family under the influence of one man's moral decay. It is a stark depiction of Russian provincial life and the destructive consequences of avarice.
Critical Reception
The film adaptation of 'Yudishka Golovlyov' was a significant Soviet production of its time, praised for its faithful and impactful portrayal of the source material. While specific contemporary critical reviews are scarce in English, the film is recognized for its strong performances and atmospheric direction, capturing the bleakness of the novel. It is considered an important work within Soviet cinema for its adaptation of classic Russian literature.
What Reviewers Say
A stark and powerful adaptation of a classic Russian novel.
Features compelling performances, particularly from the lead.
Captures the grim social commentary and psychological depth of the source material.
Google audience: Audience reception for this specific 1934 film is not readily available through standard Google review aggregators. However, the novel it's based on is highly regarded for its critique of societal ills.
Fun Fact
The film is a cinematic adaptation of the second part of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin's novel, originally titled 'The Golovlyov Family', with the character of Porfiry Golovlyov often referred to as 'Yudishka' due to his perceived hypocrisy and pseudo-piety.
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