''King Lear'' () is a 1971 Soviet

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Grigori Kozintsev Grigori Mikhailovich Kozintsev (11 May 1973, born Grigori Moiseyevich Kozintsov) was a Soviet theatre and film director, screenwriter and pedagogue. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1964. In 1965 he was a member of the jury at the ...

, based on

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's play ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

''. The film uses

Boris Pasternak Boris Leonidovich Pasternak (30 May 1960) was a Russian and Soviet poet, novelist, composer, and literary translator. Composed in 1917, Pasternak's first book of poems, ''My Sister, Life'', was published in Berlin in 1922 and soon became an imp ...

's translation of the play, while the Fool's songs are translated by

Samuil Marshak Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak (alternative spelling: Marchak) (; 4 July 1964) was a Soviet writer of Belarusian Jewish origin, translator and poet who wrote for both children and adults. He translated the sonnets and some other of the works of Willi ...

. It was Kozintsev's last completed film.

Plot

King Lear, in his old age, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, based on how much each claims to love him. His eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him with insincere declarations, hoping to secure the largest portions, while his youngest daughter, Cordelia, refuses to engage in flattery, asserting that her love transcends words. Enraged, Lear disowns Cordelia and banishes the loyal Kent, who defends her. Lear then divides the kingdom between Goneril and Regan, retaining a retinue of one hundred men and the title of King, and plans to live alternately with each daughter. Cordelia, meanwhile, is married to the King of France without a dowry. Lear soon discovers the cruelty of his elder daughters, who mistreat him and strip him of his dignity, eventually casting him out during a storm. Accompanied by his fool, Lear wanders in the wilderness, where he meets a group of outcasts. Meanwhile, Gloucester’s illegitimate son, Edmund, betrays his brother Edgar and father in a bid for power, resulting in Gloucester's blinding by Regan's husband. Cordelia, learning of her father’s plight, invades with French forces to rescue him, but both are captured. Edmund orders their execution, though he is later exposed and defeated by Edgar. Edmund’s dying wish is to save Lear and Cordelia, but she is hanged before help arrives. Goneril and Regan perish in mutual betrayal, and Lear dies heartbroken over Cordelia’s death, marking a tragic end for the once-mighty king.

Production

considered many actors for the role of Lear. The casting director first suggested

Jüri Järvet Jüri Järvet (18 June 19195 July 1995), born Georgi Kuznetsov, was a Soviet Estonian actor. Biography Jüri Järvet's birthname was Georgi Yevgenyevich Kuznetsov, and he took the Estonian form in 1938. Järvet's mother was a Russian, while hi ...

for the small part of a tramp, but Kozintsev offered him the title role. He later explained: "The internal world of this actor seemed attractive to me. This is an actor of deep thought. He is able to play the role with philosophical depth. Järvet is equally strong in humour, in that particular sort of humour that sometimes touches upon grotesque". Järvet was only 50 years old by the time of filming. The role of

Goneril Goneril is a character in William Shakespeare's tragic play ''King Lear'' (1605). She is the eldest of Leir of Britain, King Lear's three daughters. Along with her sister Regan (King Lear), Regan, Goneril is considered a villain, obsessed with p ...

is portrayed by Latvian actress

Elza Radziņa Elza Radziņa (10 February 1917 – 18 August 2005) was a Soviet Latvian theater and cinema actress, and a master of the spoken word (reader). She received People's Artist of the USSR award in 1976 and the Order of the Three Stars in 1995. She s ...

, who also appeared in Kozintsev's ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' as Gertrude. Radzina was one of the co-founders of the

Sovremennik Theatre Moscow Sovremennik Theatre () is a theatre company in Moscow founded in 1956. "Sovremennik" means "Contemporary".Galina Volchek Galina Borisovna (Berovna) Volchek (; 19 December 1933 – 26 December 2019) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress, theater director and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1989) and Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation (2017) ...

, whose casting was first met with some skepticism but went on to be a success. The relatively unknown Valentina Shendrikova of the

Mayakovsky Theatre Mayakovsky Theater () is a theater in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1920, first as ''Terevsat'' (Theater of Revolutionary Satire, 1920-1922), then ''Revolution Theater'' (1922-1943) and ''Drama Theater'' (1944-1953). In 1954 it was renamed after Vlad ...

plays Cordelia.

Oleg Dahl Oleg Ivanovich Dal (; 25 May 1941 – 3 March 1981) was a Soviet Russian stage and film actor. He acted in films, from classics of drama to fairy tales and adventures. His most popular works included ''Zhenya, Zhenechka and Katyusha'' (1967), ...

, one of the stars of the

Sovremennik Theatre Moscow Sovremennik Theatre () is a theatre company in Moscow founded in 1956. "Sovremennik" means "Contemporary".Donatas Banionis Donatas Banionis (28 April 1924 – 4 September 2014) was a Soviet and Lithuanian stage and film actor and theatre director. He has more than 80 credited roles in cinema and is best known for his performance in the lead role of Andrei Tarkovsky, ...

as Albany,

Kārlis Sebris Kārlis or Karlis is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Kārlis Aperāts (1892–1944), Latvian Standartenführer in the Waffen SS during World War II *Kārlis Ašmanis (1898–1962), Latvian footballer * Kārlis Balodis (1864 ...

as Gloucester,

Leonhard Merzin Leonhard Merzin (); 10 February 1934 in Aruküla, Kudina Parish (now Maardla, Mustvee Parish) – 2 January 1990 in Tartu) was an Estonian theatre and film actor, one of the Estonian actors active in the Soviet Union and abroad. He played in mo ...

as Edgar, and

Regimantas Adomaitis Regimantas Adomaitis (31 January 1937 – 20 June 2022) was a Lithuanian film and stage actor. He was also active in Russia and Germany. Career Adomaitis was born in Šiauliai. He graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at Vilniu ...

as Edmund. The role of Oswald went to then-unknown

Aleksei Petrenko Aleksei Vasilyevich Petrenko (; 26 March 1938 – 22 February 2017) was a Soviet and Russian film and stage actor. He played Grigori Rasputin in Elem Klimov's historical drama ''Agony'' and Joseph Stalin in the BBC Two documentary '' World War II ...

. The film was shot primarily in

Narva Narva is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in the Ida-Viru County, at the Extreme points of Estonia, eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva (river), Narva river which forms the Estonia–Russia border, E ...

and

Ivangorod Ivangorod ( rus, Иванго́род, p=ɪvɐnˈɡorət; ; ) is a town in Kingiseppsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the east bank of the Narva river which flows along the Estonia–Russia international border, west of Sain ...

. Its extensive set of houses and streets was built inside the

Ivangorod Fortress Ivangorod Fortress (; ; ) is a castle in Ivangorod, Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It was built in the 15th century. It is located on the east bank of the Narva River, which currently forms the international border between Russia and Estonia, acro ...

, which was under reconstruction at the time of filming. The film's scenic designers were Evgeny Eney and Vsevolod Ulitko; its costumes were created by the chief designer of the

Bolshoi Theatre The Bolshoi Theatre ( rus, Большо́й теа́тр, r=Bol'shoy teatr, p=bɐlʲˈʂoj tʲɪˈat(ə)r, t=Grand Theater) is a historic opera house in Moscow, Russia, originally designed by architect Joseph Bové. Before the October Revolutio ...

Simon Virsaladze.

Dmitri Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926 and thereafter was regarded as a major composer. Shostak ...

composed the film's score.

Cast

as King Lear (voiced by

Zinovy Gerdt Zalman Afroimovich Khrapinovich (21 September 191618 November 1996), known by the pseudonym Zinovy Yefimovich Gerdt, was a Soviet and Russian actor. He was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR in 1990. Biography Early life and education Ger ...

) *

as Goneril (voiced by Nina Nikitina) *

Galina Volchek Galina Borisovna (Berovna) Volchek (; 19 December 1933 – 26 December 2019) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress, theater director and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1989) and Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation (2017) ...

as Regan *

Valentina Shendrikova Valentina may refer to: People * Valentina (given name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) * Valentina (wrestler), stage name of Elizabeth Miklosi (born 1983), an American professional wrestler * Valentina (Italian ...

as Cordelia *

as Fool *

as Gloucester (voiced by Grigori Gay) *

as Edgar (voiced by

Emmanuil Vitorgan Emmanuil Gedeonovich Vitorgan (; born 27 December 1939) is a Soviet, Russian film and theater actor, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1990). People's Artist of Russia (1998). He acted in over a hundred films. Personal life *First wife — actress ...

) *

as Edmund *

Vladimir Yemelyanov Vladimir Nikolayevich Yemelyanov (; 20 June 1911 – 2 July 1975) was a Soviet actor and producer who appeared in 42 films between 1953 and 1975. He is most known for '' Road to Life'' (1955), '' The Immortal Garrison'' (1956) and '' Plane ...

as Kent * Aleksandr Vokach as Cornwall *

Donatas Banionis Donatas Banionis (28 April 1924 – 4 September 2014) was a Soviet and Lithuanian stage and film actor and theatre director. He has more than 80 credited roles in cinema and is best known for his performance in the lead role of Andrei Tarkovsky, ...

as Albany (voiced by

Aleksandr Demyanenko Aleksandr Sergeyevich Demyanenko (; May 30, 1937 – August 22, 1999) was a Soviet and Russian actor. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1991). He is best known for playing the character Shurik in Leonid Gaidai's movies. Life and career Early life Al ...

) *

as Oswald *

Juozas Budraitis Juozas Budraitis (born 6 October 1940) is a Lithuanian actor. He has appeared in more than 60 films and television shows since 1966. He starred in the Soviet film ''Wounded Game'', which was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. Budraitis ...

as King of France

Accolades

* Tehran International Film Festival (1972): Grand Prix (

) and Best Actor Award (

) *

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

(1972): Silver Hugo for Best Director (

) * Milan International Film Festival (1973): Golden Medal (

)

References

External links