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Description
In visiting his ex-wife’s apartment a man learns that she plans to remarry a scientist named Valentin Shlyakhov. In his past, the man wrote a scathing letter about Shlyakhov which greatly impacted his career. Fearing that this information will come to light when his ex-wife marries Shlyakhov, the man insists that the wedding be called off. What follows is an intimate portrayal of the relationship between a man and a woman (who are never named), whose history as husband and wife plays out during a heated conversation.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
Mikhalkov's chamber drama is widely regarded as a masterful, intense exploration of moral decay and psychological conflict between two former spouses. While almost all viewers praise the lead performances, opinions diverge regarding the film's theatrical stylistic choices and the balance between psychological depth and potential artifice.
| Acting | Irina Kupchenko and Mikhail Ulyanov deliver flawless, transformative performances that anchor the film and elevate the script to an archetypal level. | |
| Direction | Mikhalkov displays masterful control over the chamber format, using a single domestic location to escalate psychological tension into a profound, universal drama. | |
| Theme | The script effectively deconstructs the moral and spiritual collapse of a conformist generation through a high-stakes, intimate dialogue. | |
| Production | The highly stylized, theatrical aesthetic—including deliberate props and intense pacing—is seen by some as a profound artistic signature and by others as an unnecessary, artificial layer of absurdity. |