Doctor Zhivago (2002) (TV)

Director:

Giacomo Campiotti

Writers:

Boris Pasternak (novel)
Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Young and beautiful Lara is loved by three men: a revolutionary, a mogul, and a doctor. Their lives...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Civil War | Female Nudity | Breasts | Remake

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Sam MacLintock	...	Little Yury
Keira Knightley	...	Lara Antipova (neé Guishar)
Bill Paterson	...	Alexander Gromyko
Celia Imrie	...	Anna Gromyko
Sam Neill	...	Victor Komarovsky
Daniella Byrne	...	Little Tonya
Nick Stewart	...	Orthodox Priest
Hans Matheson	...	Yury Zhivago
Alexandra Maria Lara	...	Tonya Gromyko Zhivago
Jeremy Clyde	...	Professor
Daniele Liotti	...	Misha Gordon
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Olya Demina
Maryam d'Abo	...	Amalia Guishar
Robert Orr	...	Agitator
Kris Marshall	...	Pasha Antipov / Strelnikov

Also Known As:

Doktor Schiwago (Germany) (DVD title)
Zhivago (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

226 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

E-Vision

Trivia:

Romola Garai auditioned for the role of Lara.

Quotes:

Lara: I saw you in the library.
Yuri: Why didn't you speak to me?
Lara: Don't tell me you didn't see me.

Movie Connections:

Version of Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Soundtrack:

Korobochka

David and Goliath?

This serialised version of Dr Zhivago was extremely enjoyable with memorable performances from all the cast. I can't comment on how faithful it is to Pasternak's text as I've never read the book, which also leaves me with an unanswered question.

Both David Lean's more poignant movie, and this adaptation left me wondering what happened to Lara's son and daughter, and how they managed to survive alone in the turbulence that was Russia at the time. I suppose I'll have to read the book after all.

Also I thought it rather odd that the serial started narrator-less, yet ended with said son's adult narrative as if he'd been telling the story all along. If he had been, I'm afraid I missed it.

One last point, albeit a little picky...Yuri Zhivago's corpse looked remarkably healthy. Did they have thermostatically controlled coffins in those days or what? However, the ending apart, applause should be given for an excellent production of this Goliath of a story, keeping in mind that David Lean is a hard act to follow.