The Cherry Orchard (1999)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Mihalis Kakogiannis

Writers:

Anton Chekhov (play)
Mihalis Kakogiannis (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 January 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Madame Ranevskaya (Rampling) is a spoiled aging aristocratic lady, who returns from a trip to Paris...

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Language Adaptation | Based On Play | Independent Film

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Charlotte Rampling	...	Ranyevskaya
Alan Bates	...	Gayev
Katrin Cartlidge	...	Varya
Owen Teale	...	Lopahin
Tushka Bergen	...	Anya
Xander Berkeley	...	Yepihodov
Gerard Butler	...	Yasha (as Gerald Butler)
Andrew Howard	...	Trofimov
Melanie Lynskey	...	Dunyasha
Ian McNeice	...	Pishchik
Frances de la Tour	...	Charlotte Ivanovna
Michael Gough	...	Feers
Simeon Victorov	...	Doridanov
Itzhak Finzi	...	Stranger
Ivan Pangelov	...	French priest
Ivan Grigoriev	...	Yevstigney
Margarita Kemalova	...	Yasha's mother
Yuli Toshev	...	Auctioneer
Todor Georgiev	...	First Bidder (as Todor Gheorghiev)
Vassili Trayanov	...	Lopahin's friend

Directed by
Mihalis Kakogiannis		(as Michael Cacoyannis)

Writing credits
Anton Chekhov		(play "Vishnyovyy sad")
Mihalis Kakogiannis		(screenplay) (as Michael Cacoyannis)

Produced by
Mihalis Kakogiannis	....	producer
Alexander Metodiev	....	executive producer
Yannoulla Wakefield	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Aris Stavrou

Film Editing by
Takis Hadzis
Mihalis Kakogiannis

Casting by
Bruce H. Newberg

Production Design by
Dionysis Fotopoulos

Set Decoration by
Ivan Andreyev
Dionysis Fotopoulos

Costume Design by
Dionysis Fotopoulos

Makeup Department
Yvonne Guguchikova	....	assistant hair stylist
Yvonne Guguchikova	....	assistant makeup artist
Joan Hills	....	hair designer
Joan Hills	....	makeup designer
Sophie Hvasieva	....	assistant hair stylist
Sophie Hvasieva	....	assistant makeup artist
Lisa Pickering	....	assistant hair stylist
Lisa Pickering	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Pat Arvaniti	....	production supervisor
Jean-Pierre Desagnat	....	production manager: France

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Travers	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Krassimir Andreyev	....	set painter
Gérard James	....	property master
Venzislav Lilov	....	set constructor
Bogomil Petrov	....	property master
Lili Pezanou	....	set architect
Valentin Valvov	....	set dresser
Rafaël Vicent-Marti	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Thanassis Arvanitis	....	sound transfer
Alexander Bachvarov	....	sound recordist
Aggela Despotidou	....	assistant sound editor (as Angela Despotidou)
Tsvetan Kadiiski	....	boom operator (as Zvetan Kadijski)
Valery Metodiev	....	playback operator
Kostas Varybopiotis	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Costa Varibopiotis)
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor (as Leslie Wiggins)

Camera and Electrical Department
Christo Bakalov	....	Steadicam operator
Nedialko Georgiev	....	key grip
Nikos Kavoukidis	....	cinematographer: orchard
Stavros Markomihalis	....	electrician
Linos Meitanis	....	focus puller (as Linos Meitanos)
George Mihailov	....	electrician (as Georgi Mihailov)
Anton Nakov	....	camera loader (as Anton Nacov)
Yavor Zahariev	....	electrician (as Javor Zahariev)

Casting Department
Claudie Layton	....	casting associate: London
Timothy Michals	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (as Tim Michals)
Belinda Norcliffe	....	casting associate: London
Thierry Tronchet	....	casting associate: France

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Justine Duprat	....	wardrobe: France
Jane Hamilton	....	costume supervisor
Katya Ivanova	....	wardrobe mistress
Ekaterina Karaivanova	....	wardrobe mistress (as Katerina Karaivanova)

Music Department
Vladimir Ashkenazy	....	musician: piano
Dimitris Papadimitriou	....	music consultant (as Dimitri Papadimitriou)

Other crew
Ludovic Henry	....	location manager: France
Mariela Kanilova	....	caterer
Krasimira Karachorova	....	script supervisor
Ellen Katsikeas	....	assistant to director
Albena Kovacheva	....	assistant to director
Fedya Lobanov	....	choreographer
George Martinis	....	accountant
P. Papadimitriou	....	title designer
Bobby Ranghelov	....	production liaison (as Bobby Rangelov)
Manolis Sakkadakis	....	title designer
Radoslava Todorova	....	location manager
Argyris Vavouris	....	lettering
Vladimir Vladimirov	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Melanda Film Productions
• Greek Film Center (in association with)
• Amanda Productions (in association with)
• Films de l'Astre (in association with)
• Canal+ (participation)
• Eurimages (support)
• Greek Television ET-1 (in association with)

Distributors

• Les Films de l'Astre (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Kino International (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cosprop  costumes
• Slater & Associates Casting  casting

Also Known As:

La cerisaie (France)
O vyssinokipos (Greece)
The Cherry Orchard (UK)

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

Greece | Cyprus | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

USA:Not Rated (video rating) | Australia:PG | France:U | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Melanda Film Productions

Trivia:

Glenn Close was the second choice for Ranyevskaya. After Helen Mirren withdrew she was called to replace her. She was busy with Robert Altman's Cookie's Fortune (1999) at the time, so she refused the part at the last minute. Charlotte Rampling eventually got it.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Play of the Week: The Cherry Orchard (#1.12)" (1959)

Soundtrack:

String Quartet No 3

Gerry Equals Sunshine

I have to say I hated this movie. I don't like to say that because Gerard Butler is in it. About a half an hour of boring conversation, sorry to all who actually care about the plot, I started fast-forwarding to Gerry's scenes. I really don't know the ending, I was that bored with it. If Gerry wasn't in it, I probably either done one of two things: fell asleep or turned it off, but Gerry is the bright light of this movie, as he is with most of his earlier movies. If you're a fan of Gerry's don't worry, he's as adorable and precious as he always is, but if you actually want to watch the movie for the plot, good luck because you'll need it, either that or lots of coffee or soda to keep you awake!

4/10...and that's just because the casting director had the sense to put Gerry in this movie, even though they had no idea of how to spell his name!