(Скорбное бесчувствие)

Content: The action in this lavishly produced film takes place at an oddly ark-shaped mansion during World War I, and in spirit (although not in story) it reflects the play which inspired it, the ferociously antiwar Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw. A large group of family and friends have gathered at this country house to dance, drink, and converse. Their conversation, in particular, is adorned with erudite literary references and quotations. Despite their apparent refinement, their preoccupations are simple: sex and violence. Disquieting images break the tranquility of the vacationers' inappropriate idyll: some of these include documentary footage of starving African children, images (both real and re-enacted) of George Bernard Shaw going about his daily life, and a corpse coming to life on an autopsy table, only to cheapen that miracle by scolding a group of women. The music used in the film ironically points to its disturbing message and is uniformly anachronistic.

Countries:

Soviet Union

Genres:

Drama

Runtime:

110 minutes

Year:

1987

Directors:

Aleksandr Sokurov

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Production companies:

Lenfilm

Actors:

Shotover

Ariadne

Hector

Hesione

Guinness's nurse

Crews:

Sound

Writer

Production Design

Editor

Director