Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino

Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov is probably best known in the United States for 1994's Oscar-winning "Burnt by the Sun", an indictment of Stalin's purges. It turns out that he had been directing movies for years before then. A particularly good one was 1977's "Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino" ("An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano" in English), a composite of some of Anton Chekhov's works. It looks at a group of aristocrats who have gathered at a vacation home in rural Russia in the early twentieth century. Relationships develop, but things aren't necessarily what they seem.

The movie makes sure to incorporate Chekhov's fatalistic style, and even includes a performance of Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2" (comically performed by Daffy Duck and Donald Duck in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"?). A lot of the humor is more unique to Russian culture, so people outside Russia might not get it, but you should still see the movie. Complex, profound characters and impressive rural scenery make this one not to be missed.

If you read Anton Chekhov, you will not find this story in his plays. However, this film was made by Chekhov. If you love his works and if you are able to feel their spirit, you will love this wonderful film. Because the main intention was to feel and reproduce this unique atmosphere of Chekhov's works. Mikhalkov did it perfectly. I have to say, it's very hard thing as there are actually very few good films made by Chekhov's plays and later stories. Mikhalkov reproduced this boredom of insignificant people's lives and despair of the main character (Mikhail Platonov). Chekhov is my favorite author and I guess I know what is good and what is bad in those films by his works. If Chekhov's name isn't just a name for you, you HAVE TO get this film and watch it!!! It's the best film by Chekhov I've ever seen.

I saw a movie from a Chekhov play in a college film class decades ago and it was a tedious thing about wealthy boring people prattling on as uninterestingly as possible. So I haven't been eager to see more. I did see an amateur production of a one-act that was quite funny, but I didn't decide to actually track down more Chekhov until I watched the Japanese movie Drive My Car about a guy directing a Chekhov production. It made my girlfriend curious, so I looked into acclaimed Chekhov films and found this one was admired. It was also recommended by an actor friend.

But once again, it's just wealthy people prattling on. They don't say anything interesting. It was just like hanging out with a bunch of dull people as they live their lives. 25 minutes in we couldn't take any more.

I just don't get it. My impression is Chekhov knows his characters are dull and empty-headed but that doesn't make it any more interesting to watch them.

Oh well.

I'm afraid that my poor english will not let me to tell how wonderful and profound movie is this. The actors are brilliant, the script is perfect, the recreation of the atmosphere is a totally success, the dramatic turn is magnific directed, this movie is an all time masterpiece. Believe me! Oh, those Russians!

v.beautifully rendered cehov sceneries + ambiance

the film is a a deliciously nuanced afternoon treat whether one comprehends it or not.

human reason has created many grand, yet artificial axioms in order to tame reality and extract meaning ... but none so tiny, yet infinite, as love

winning over love begets one ... meaninglessness and/or suicide

it cannot be directly sought or striven for but it is recognized when it comes and it brings a serenity and graciousness of knowing how small the sense of self is, how transient are its aims and impacts, and how broad is the range of interconnection with other selves by influences too small to be singled out and labeled, yet undeniably acting within -

in the way that a single neuron in cortex 'knows' what is to be done from the field of activity within which it is embedded, without the need to know 'why' or 'what the big picture is'. it is sufficient for a neuron to perform as a neuron is designed to do, and for a woman or man it is enough to know that one has met a challenge or passed 01test without realizing that a test was in progress.

not everyone achieves this state of mind, and it is not communicable in words or by teaching, but it is there and has been written about, and when one arrives, one knows that the future has joined with the past to make a circle outside time.

space folds onto itself. love does as well.