FilmSkool — a free film school
The Last Station
A historical drama that illustrates Russian author Leo Tolstoy's struggle to balance fame and wealth with his commitment to a life devoid of material things. The Countess Sofya, wife and muse to Leo Tolstoy, uses every trick of seduction on her husband's loyal disciple, whom she believes was the person responsible for Tolstoy signing a new will that leaves his work and property to the Russian people.
2009 · Directed by Michael Hoffman · 112 min · Drama · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 4 frames
Tagline
Intoxicating. Infuriating. Impossible. Love.
Plot
In 1910, the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life, his disciples, led by Vladimir Chertkov, manoeuvre against his wife, Sofya, for control over Tolstoy's works after his death. The main setting is the Tolstoy country estate of Yasnaya Polyana. Tolstoy and Sofya have had a long, passionate marriage, but his spiritual ideals and asceticism (he is opposed, for example, to private property) are at odds with her more aristocratic and conventionally religious views.
Contention focuses on a new will that the "Tolstoyans" are attempting to persuade him to sign. It would place all of his copyrights into the public domain, supposedly leaving his family without adequate support. The maneuvering is seen through the eyes of Tolstoy's new secretary, Valentin Bulgakov, who finds himself mediating between the two sides. He also has a love affair with one of the Tolstoyans, Masha.
Ultimately, Tolstoy signs the new will and travels to an undisclosed location where he can continue his work undisturbed. After his departure, Sofya unsuccessfully attempts suicide. During the journey, Tolstoy falls ill. The film ends with his death near the Astapovo railway station where Sofya is allowed by their daughter to see him just moments before his death. The closing credits state that in 1914 the Russian senate reverted the copyrights of Tolstoy's work to Sofya.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Michael Hoffman
- Cinematography: Sebastian Edschmid
- Edited by: Patricia Rommel
- Music: Sergei Yevtushenko
- Production design: Patrizia von Brandenstein
- Produced by: Chris Curling, Jens Meurer, Bonnie Arnold
Cast
- Helen Mirren as Sofya Tolstoya
- Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy
- Paul Giamatti as Vladimir Chertkov
- James McAvoy as Valentin Bulgakov
- John Sessions as Dushan
- Patrick Kennedy as Sergeyenko
- Kerry Condon as Masha
- Anne-Marie Duff as Sasha Tolstoy
- Tomas Spencer as Andrey Tolstoy
- David Masterson as Reporter
Production
- Country: Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Zephyr Films, Egoli Tossell Film, Production Center of Andrei Konchalovsky
- Themes: based on novel or book, biography, writer, duringcreditsstinger, 1910s
Own the film
FilmSkool earns a small commission from qualifying Amazon purchases, at no cost to you.
More by Michael Hoffman
On this film
This is the plain index, shown because JavaScript is off. Every lesson here is a free video published by the channel credited on it and plays through that channel's own embed — FilmSkool hosts nothing.