hte-trasme Iosif Kheifits and Lenfilm did an excellent job filming this adaptation of Anton Chekhov's timeless novella. To start with an intangible, this film does what very few adaptations really do, and seems really to capture the feel of the original story of unachievable love -- and to be as ethereally moving. It does it, at least in part, with honesty, simplicity, and great are and attention to detail (in everything from the composition of even the briefest shots, to the old pre-Revolutionary Russian spelling on every visible sign). That simplicity might be its greatest asset, as the story is allowed to take its time to develop, atmosphere and the communication of the characters's emotions taking precedence over a complicated plot or busy action. Both lead actors deserve a lot of commendation, especially Aleksey Batalov, with just the right amount of expressiveness behind his reserve, and exuding a melancholy and desire that perfectly match the tenor of the piece. In all, with its delicate recreation of Chekhov's tone, rich simplicity, and resistance to the temptation to add beyond its material, I have to think of it as one of the best adaptations I have seen.

ametaphysicalshark "Dama s sobachkoy" or "The Lady With the Dog" is an adaptation of the famous (and rather good) Anton Chekhov short story of the same name. Director Iosif Kheifits approaches the film sensibly by adapting not only the story but also many of the sensibilities and characteristics present in Chekhov's writing.First of all, the pacing: In keeping with Chekhov's short story the pacing is natural in the way one would relate a truly affecting story from their life- slowly but also in a sense relentlessly and without break. Also typical of Chekhov and thankfully not changed in this film version is the lack of a moral 'message' as well as the subtle characterization that depends on highlighting character traits rather than blatantly telling you what sort of character to expect.As a film "Dama s sobachkoy" is definitely impressive with the striking black and white photography by Dmitri Meskhiyev and Andrei Moskvin perfectly accentuating the various moods of the film. There's also a memorable score by Nadezhda Simonyan to add to the film with the main theme being particularly effective.I'm not sure if I see any real flaws in "Dama s sobachkoy" but somehow it doesn't come off as a classic. What it does succeed in is becoming an excellent adaptation of a memorable short story that is pulled off unusually but very well regardless.8/10

wallner-3 They don't make films like this any more. In film you either make it in the best time honoured classical tradition: logical sequence, irony, exquisite painstaking set-ups with perfect lighting, costumes, extras, everything pleasing to the eye and the heart and you find others watching it with a smile on their faces; or you make it so fast, jump edits, ramping, so wild that only you know the rules. Well you can do it the Clint Eastwood way which is the perfectly oiled machine: film them during the rehearsal. He really belongs to the classical genre. The problem with the second way is that you can't sit easily through two hours of a movie made like that. A pop video of two minutes fine, otherwise you emerge from the cinema with your brain fried and the stupid expression you get after sitting through three hours of watching ad commercial festivals. I've done it many times, and it's unnatural, and not good for you. THE LADY WITH THE LITTLE DOG is a perfect little story, superbly acted, observed, costumed, directed, lit, everything. A masterpiece of black and white. It cannot be faulted in any way. It must have taken ages to do the set-ups, something no one can afford to do these days; but then with the state paying the salaries, who was counting? So it was made during the Soviet era: but what is perfect, is perfect, for all time.

laurelelliot Two weak people wandering through life probably frustrating and certainly boring the life out of their "strong" spouses. Why didn't they just develop a little backbone at home?! It would have made everybody's lives more interesting! I felt like I was reading a Thomas Hardy novel and I wanted to scream or at least shake them until their teeth rattled. But I persevered until the inevitable end, "We'll find a way." ... Maybe. But since the overwhelming impression was that their adulterous passions arose out of an inner boredom with life, it seems entirely likely that that same inner boredom will eventually quench this new passion too.