LERMONTOV

Cinemavixion Review

This 2014 film, titled 'Lermontov,' delves into the life and works of the iconic Russian poet and writer Mikhail Lermontov, born in 1814. Released to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth, the movie seeks to illuminate the profound connection between Lermontov's personal experiences and the narratives he created. The film masterfully blurs the lines between the poet's reality and his imagination, suggesting that the characters and events in his writings offer keys to understanding the mysteries of his own fate. Lermontov, who tragically died in a duel at the young age of 27, navigated a life marked by parental absence, intense love affairs, deep friendships, and war, yet consistently felt a sense of profound loneliness. The film explores how these elements shaped his literary output, which remains a cornerstone of Russian literature and has been translated into numerous languages, securing its place in world literature classics. Directed by Maksim Bespalyi, and featuring performances by Vladimir Ablogin, Anna Levanova, and Semen Serzin, 'Lermontov' offers an insightful, albeit fictionalized, portrait of a literary genius whose life was as dramatic as his art.