Film Adaptations of Russian Classics

Discusses film adaptations of Russian classics since the 1960s

Introduces the notion of a literary-cinematic space a modern-day cultural phenomenon, characterised by a synergetic (rather than hierarchical) relationship between its components
Traces the development of this synergy in the art of cinematic translation, attained by way of dialogism with and co-authorship in relation to the source text
Explores the filmmaker as a creative mediator between two cultures

The volume examines several screen adaptations of works written by mid- and late nineteenth-century authors, who constitute the hallmark of the Russian cultural brand, finding favour with audiences in Russia and in the West. It considers reimagining of Goncharov, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Tolstoy in different contexts.

The book examines various types of adaptation, including transposition, commentary, and analogy. It focuses on established Russian and western filmmakers' dialogue with the classics taking place in the last 60 years. The book shows how the ideological and/or philosophical concerns of the day serve as a lens for a specific reading of the novel, the story, or the play. By foregrounding a synergetic literary-cinematic space, the book demonstrates how the director becomes a creative mediator between his audiences and the author, taking account of contemporary epistemological imperatives and the particularities of the reception by viewers.