Dostoevsky [2011][DVD NTSC][English Subtitles]

Loved this film. The supertitles (in English) are great, so that hopefully holds no one back who is interested. Visually it's marvelous. It captures the details, the feeling, the impact of the era and the circumstances in which D. found himself (or got himself) . It does not follow his life to the end. Should you be reading Dostoevsky's works, or studying that era of Russian history, I would highly recommend. The principal actor is a dead-ringer for Dostoevsky--it's uncanny (if you compare faces). A couple of "adult moments" but we have successfully excerpted several parts of this for grandkids, students, in the 6-10 year old range to teach not just about Dostoevsky but about Russian history/life.

Dostoevsky specialists will not be disappointed. True the subtitles are, as so often with Russian films, inexact, but one can look past this to the superb dramatization and the mature appreciation of the great man's themes, without sparing his bizarre quirks. There are many gems folded inside it that few series would bother with now. All in all a wonderful surprise.

The writer Dostoevsky is very much the product of a life lived large. This series captures the living drama that was Fyodor Dostoevsky. It is fascinating to see represented the major chapters of his life, including people who particularly impacted him. The depiction of Turgenev, for example, does a good job of capturing the devolution of their friendship (which led to his scathing caricature of Turgenev, thinly veiled as the older Verkhovensky in Demons). His own struggles with political activism, spiritual issues, gambling, marital fidelity, and epilepsy, as well as his observations of poverty from close up, all are represented. This is not a complete picture of the man (who did actually have a lighter side), but it does present many glimpses into the events of his life which shaped his approach to literature.

A very viewable and informative movie biography, showing the man behind the novels, who often has to grapple with his own "demons!"

This is another great Russian series, free of the trite Hollywood conventions and formulas. I am disappointed it did not go further in the life of its subject, although our hero made it to acceptance and some measure of prosperity free of his gambling addiction. The greatness of Dostoevsky's philosophy seems to transcend the mundane and materialist viewpoints. Dostoevsky suffers under the Tsarist regime, but is not embittered by his experience and ends up embracing traditional Russia. I like the part where he spoke with one of the men who was tasked with his aborted execution many years before.

This was an absorbing, beautifully produced movie about the Russian writer Dostovesky. The actor playing the lead role was nuanced, expressive, and deeply into a believable, moving characterization. We were completely absorbed by the unfolding life story and looked forward to watching every episode. At least as good as the best Masterpiece Theatre dramas. Maybe better. It's much more evocative to hear the story in Russian, and I say this as an English-only speaker.

...in the middle a series even it's only 99 cents! Don't nickel and dime me!

I purchase Russian movies in order to improve my Russian language skills.