Les

This film, made during the Soviet era, tells the story of a wealthy former beauty who begins an affair with a much younger man who has recently arrived in her provincial area. The man is something of a rabble-rouser, and his presence at the wealthy estate creates upheaval amongst the locals.

Being set in the 1800s, you might expect this to be a gentle comedy of manners, like a Jane Austen adaptation. In fact, it's quite a raucous, irreverent film, more reminiscent of contemporary period comedies like The Favourite or the TV series, The Great. The quality of the performances and cinematography are incredibly high, it a surprisingly beautiful film to look at, again unusual for a comedy.

That said, for a non-Russian viewer, a lot of the comedy is lost, with a strong focus on Russian class hierarchy (the director had previously been sanctioned for a perceived critique of the government in an earlier film).

Overall, lots the appreciate, even if the story and jokes don't always engage. A film that deserves more attention.