Product Details

• Actors: Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasilyev, Gali Abaydulov, Marat Daukaev, Anatoliy Gridin
• Directors: Alexandr Belinsky
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Video Artists Int'l
• DVD Release Date: April 24, 2007
• Run Time: 67 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000PC6EO4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,867 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little-known Russian ballet with marvellous cast, July 15, 2007

By 

Marc Haegeman "Marc Haegeman" (Gent, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anyuta: A Ballet (DVD)

Vladimir Vasiliev is not only one the all-time greatest Russian dancers, the former Bolshoi star has also proven a choreographer of real distinction. VAI re-releases his two-act ballet "Anyuta" as it was initially created in 1982 as a dance film with his wife Ekaterina Maximova in the title role. Adapted for the stage four years later, it remains one of his most complete and convincing works. Based upon Anton Chekhov's short story "Anna on the neck", satirizing life in a small provincial town, Anyuta concerns a woman who after marrying upon the social ladder discovers the power of beauty and sexual attraction, yet at the expense of all those dear to her. Set to an irresistible melodious score by Valery Gavrilin, Vasiliev's choreography, even if firmly rooted in the classical idiom and reviving the tradition of Russian literary ballets, is contemporary and adroitely portrays the characters, blending sentiment with the element of grotesque.

Ekaterina Maximova is magnificent as Anyuta, conveying a breathtaking range of emotions while Vladimir Vasiliev himself, cast against type as her hapless drinking father, gives one of his most subtle and moving portrayals. Supporting roles include Gali Abaidulov as Anyuta's wealthy and powerful, but stingy and boring bureaucrat-husband, John Markovsky as the rich and spoiled Don Juan Artynov, and Marat Daukaev as the student (a character introduced by Vasiliev) whom Anyuta is genuinely in love with.

VAI provides a fair DVD transfer from this 1982 film, with only a few blemishes in the print.

Highly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful,moving Anyuta, February 17, 2009

By 

Jose Brito (Estoril,Portugal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anyuta: A Ballet (DVD)

Vladimir Vasiliev found Valery Gavrilin's music score for Anyuta (based in Chekhov's short story "Anna on the neck")quite an inspiration for his choreograpy of this ballet as "it acted as a spur to my imagination",he said,for he considered that Gravilin understood the very essence of Chekhov's work.Somehow ,Anyuta brings a reminiscense of Faubert's heroine,Mme Bovary,when she understands the power of physical beauty and becomes an adict to luxury,leaving everything and everyone behind,eating her life away.
As Anyutas's father,Vasiliev - considered the world's best dancer by Paris Dance Academy - plays a suffering,alcoholic man in a rather moving portrayal.
Ekaterina Maximova,in her early forties,dances the title role effortlessly,bringing out Anyuta's inner thoughts and feelings with such an expressiveness that she becomes the role she plays through dancing,supported by her superb technique.
Gorkovenko conducts Gavrilin's exciting music brilliantly.Filmed in 1982,the quality of the picture is modest but nevertheless it is a most beautifully choreographed modern classic ballet.A must.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BreathTaking, June 25, 2007

By 

maiden pa. "gammaraider" (bedford, pa United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Anyuta: A Ballet (DVD)

I bought this and was just blown away with her in this. A story of a girls rise from poverty to riches based on Chekhov's story Anna on the Neck. Choreographed by Vasiliev who also dances in it. Bonus is The Stone Flower with Maximova and Vasiliev. 67 minutes. Mono. Color. All region. Absolutely worth it.