Ivan Turgenev Movies

In Mumu, Lyudmilla Maksakova plays Mistress, a wealthy landlady in 19th Century Russia who has a large population of serfs in her grasp -- and she happens to enjoy squeezing them every once in a while. She's always searching for new ways to emotionally manipulate her underlings, her favorite having herself pronounced dead so she can see how people would react to her passing (she's tried this more than once). Into this picture comes Gerasimo (Alexander Baluev), a bearded mountain of a man who happens to be mute. Most men regard him as a simpleton and toy with him (which they usually come to regret), while women are often charmed by his gentle yet masculine nature. Gerasimo soon finds himself in the first stages of romance with a lovely blonde serf and adopts a small dog, which he names Mumu (one of the only sounds he can make). However, Mistress is not happy with either of these developments and puts a stop to both -- which earns her Gerasimo's wrath. Based on a story by Ivan Turgenev, this historical drama ironically became the first Russian film to have its own promotional website (mumu.park.ru). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Based on the novel by Ivan Turgenev, this drama tells of a young Russian noble during the mid 19th century who, although engaged to a young pastry chef, falls for a seductive married noblewoman who has arranged to buy his estate. Timothy Hutton, Nastassja Kinski and Valeria Golino star in this period piece. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

In an adaptation of a story set in the 19th century by Ivan Turgenev, director Josef Heifitz has a rather strait-laced, inhibited Russian man visiting Germany by himself and then running into Asya (Yelena Koreneva), a carefree, happy young Russian woman and her half-brother, also doing some traveling. The three of them hook up together and it soon becomes apparent that the Russian gentleman is falling in love with Asya, though he is too timid to do anything about the way he feels -- perhaps because the feeling is so strong. Suddenly one morning he wakes up to find that the pair are gone and although he tries to track them down, it is to no avail. He must return to Russia having lost the one love of his life -- a dejected and unfortunate man. When he visits Germany again many years later, he seems too far immersed in his own self-pity to be salvaged by anyone, including Asya herself. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

After suffering artistically at the hands of Russian censors (his Asya's Happiness wound up being shelved for two decades for a variety of obscure political reasons), director Andrei Konchalovsky briefly played safe with a brace of elegiac literary adaptations. The first of these was A Nest of Gentlefolk, adapted from a Turgenev story. Put in the simplest possible terms, the film concerns a well-meaning landowner, his adulterous wife, and the woman that he loves. Loenid Kulagin, Irina Kupchenko and Beata Tyskiewicz are the actors comprising this angst-ridden triangle. Originally titled Dvoranskoye gnezdo, the film was also released in English-speaking countries as A Nest of Gentry and Nobiliary Nest. In his characteristic fashion, Konchalovsky handles his material in loving (if slightly mannered fashion). He followed Nest of Gentlefolk with a cinemazation of Checkov's Uncle Vanya (1970), then spent four inactive years before turning out his biggest pre-Hollywood financial success, The Romance of Lovers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this touching tale, a deaf-mute is forced to leave his country home to work on the urban estate of a wealthy woman. He finds his new home quite depressing until he falls in love with a pretty washerwoman. Unfortunately, their manipulative employer forces the woman to marry another. The quiet keeper's heartache is eased when he finds a sickly puppy, whom he names Mumu (one of the only sounds he can utter). Soon Mumu is healthy and full of life, but one day it snaps at the lady and she orders it removed. The fellow then drowns the pup in a river and begins walking towards his home village. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide