Customer Reviews

King Lear / Korol Lir

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4 star:		(1)
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I saw this film mentioned with Kozintsev's Hamlet in a film book - i was so happy its finally out on DVD - its a masterful film -equal to Bergman - i also have Olivier's Lear - this one is much better in my opinion - this one is engaging throughout - its filmed in very beautiful black and white - the picture quality is great - the set is very bleak - really giving a forbidding mood to the film - i felt that much of the plot is absurd watching the Olivier version - this everything seems natural - the motives make sense - its a true tragedy because all the characters behave in a way that they feel will further their lives but the noose is tightening steady - sorry to dwell on Olivier's version but in it he seems like a dottering old fool from the beginng - reducing the tragic sense - in this version its pausable how Lear goes mad - you can feel his growing emotion trauma as the film unfolds ----- the translation was made by Pasternak and the music by Shostakovich - two geniuses of their age - this film works on all levels

Kozintsev's version of King Lear is not only one of the most extraordinary film adaptations of Shakespeare but one of the most extrarodinary films, period. Take care, though: This particular DVD is only in Russian--NO SUBTITLES. Amazon sells a different DVD of Kozintsev's film that does have subtitles.

I fully agree with Howard's opinion. This is an unquestionable masterpiece. Bleak, human and very painful. After watching Kozintsev's film Olivier's version will seem like a classical 19th century Shakespearian excercise - proper, somewhat overacted and without a touch of a true emotion. If you want to feel Lear, see this one. Possibly one of the best films ever made.

"In times of hypocrisy sincerity associates with cynicism" (Somerset Maugham)
The old man Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Confounding the false adulation of the eldest daughters (Goneril and Regan)with authentic filial love and the sincerity of Cordelia with disloyalty, disinherits her and redistributes the accorded portion, consenting half and half. Meanwhile Cordelia decides to get marry with France'King and Count Kent, who infructuously has intended to convince Lear in reason, is exiled. Nevertheless Lear will understand that those we love more than anybody are precisely, who hurt with major intensity.
When Lear renounces to his throne and delegated his authority and responsibility , and pretends being treated as a King, doesn 't seem to realize his redemption act has been the key master that will open the Great Gate toward the greed, ambition and infinite power thirst.
And that' s precisely Lear decides to make a journey to the madness, trying to isolate from the irreversible hell that will come for him to fade.
One of the sublime creations of Shakespeare acquire special shine in this Russian adaptation. Filmed in glorious black white, with a cold and inhospitable landscape, Kozintsev underlines the irrationality of that fight without scruples for the absolute power.
From the first shots of the film, we' ll see an impressive crane movement to show a miserable and maltreated people. The violent camera movements through the movie are going to accent the struggling character of the text.
Yuri Yarret makes a superb performance of the maddened King. The fidelity's text and age, rigorously rebuilt, made the most exigent Western Shakeperians ( including myself) would applause it without reserves.
Footnote: Maybe it is useless for my English readers a curious semantic detail: Sanity in Spanish means cordura . And now let' s think in Cordelia, his most sincere daughter. The linguistic roots are very similar. Don't you?

I saw this for a college class on Shakespeare. Initially, I wasn't too thrilled with having to watch a Russian black and white rendition of King Lear, but changed my mind soon after I started watching the film. This is a very faithful telling of Shakespeare's classic that will draw you in and entertain you. The acting is superb and the visuals are wonderful.

If your Russian is not good and have to depend on the dubbing or just the subtitles then it is not great. The dubbing should have had different readers, especially for the female roles. Having the same reader for all actors and not being synchronized made it difficult for me to follow the intent of the author. I suspect I missed many of the nuances, as I am not anywhere as familiar with King Lear as with many of Shakespeare's other plays.