Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Doctor Zhivago
Directed by David Lean
Written by Robert Bolt from the novel by Boris Pasternak
1965/USA/Italy/UK
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Carlo Ponti Production/Sostar S.A.
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Gromeko: [Aghast while reading newspaper] They’ve shot the Czar. And all his family.[crumples newspaper] Oh, that’s a savage deed. What’s it for?

Zhivago: It’s to show there’s no going back.[/box]

Snow never looked so beautiful.

The plot takes place\ in the period just prior to the Russian Revolution through the Revolution itself and the ensuing Civil War. The story follows the life Dr. Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif), an idealistic apolitical poet and physician, and his relationships with wife Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin) and mistress Lara (Julie Christie).  As the film begins, Zhivago courts Tonya and Lara is engaged to Pasha (Tom Courtenay).  Pasha is an idealistic reformer who turns ruthless Bolshevik Red Army commander when he is disfigured by police during a peaceful protest.  At some point Lara marries Pasha and bears him a daughter.  dbut he lives for his mission.  While Pasha is away, Lara becomes the mistress of her moither’s lover, the unscrupulous businessman Kamirofsky (Rod Steiger).

Lara and Zhivago reunite as doctor and nurse on a WWI battlefield.  They later become lovers and she becomes his muse. At the same time, he clearly cares for his wife and son.  The story winds on for over three hours as the Revolution spares no one from suffering.  With Ralph Richardson as Tonya’s father; Alec Guinness as Zhivago’s half brother; and Rita Tushingham as the possible daughter of Zhivago and Lara.

The film is very beautifully shot in the wide expanses of the Russian landscape and the acting is top shot. I felt the plot lacked some depth but it kept my interest throughout.  Julie Christie has one of the great expressive faces in cinema.  The score is justly iconic.

Doctor Zhivago won Academy Awards in the categories of: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium; Best Cinematography, Color; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color; Best Music-Score, Substantially Original.  It was nominated in the categories of: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Courtney); Best Director; Best Sound; and Best Film Editing.