|
Actors: Oleg Menshikov, Julia Ormond, Richard Harris, Alexei Petrenko
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Barber of Siberia |
|---|
The story unfolds in tsarist Russia, during the rule of Alexander III (1885). McCracken, an inventor (Richard Harris), builds a steam-engine tree-cutting machine, specifically for the vast Siberian forests (hence the name of it, “The Barber of Siberia”). McCracken hopes to make a fortune by selling the machine to the Russians. However, he realizes that getting such a big commission will be difficult, especially in Russia, known for its bureaucracy and unpredictability, so he hires a professional seductress Jane Callahan (Julia Ormond) who will pose as his daughter and charm the Russian officials into helping him.
Jane travels from Massachusetts to Moscow. On the last part of her journey, in the train, she meets and befriends a group of Russian cadets. One of them, Andrey Tolstoy (Oleg Menshikov), sparkles her interest since he has the same last name as the famous Russian author whose book Jane is reading; however, Andrey states that he is not related to the writer. Jane arrives to Moscow and begins her “work.” One of her targets is General Radlov (Alexei Petrenko), the Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Technical Innovations and also the head of the cadet school Andrey attends. The General quickly succumbs to Jane charms. Not being fluent in English, he writes his feelings down in a letter and asks Andrey to read it to Jane out loud when she and her supposed “father” arrive. Andrey starts reading the letter but half way through it switches to declaring his own love for Jane, stunning everyone.
The incident is hushed. Jane continues to work on the General Radlov, although she returns Andrey's feelings. Tortured by jealousy, Andrey attacks the general in the theatre, right in the middle of a student performance of “The Barber of Seville” where he was starring as Figaro. It so happens that the play is attended by members of the royal family, and Andrey's action is perceived as an attempt on their lives. His honor would not let him reveal the real reason for the attack. Andrey ends up shackled and sent to Siberia.
--Laura Southcombe, Resident Scholar
|
| Analysis of The Barber of Siberia |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- love triangle/polygon
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Russian
Culture clash?
- visiting a different culture
Culture of surrounding area:
- Russian
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) muscular
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Russian
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) long wavey
Body type
- (woman) very skinny
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Eastern Europe
Forest?
Yes
City?
Yes
Misc setting
- theater
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- all mixed up
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
Any profanity?
- None
|
| Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking |
|---|
| Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears
starring Irina Muravyova, Vera Alentova, Raisa Ryazanova, Alexei Batalov, Aleksandr Fatyushir
|
| Nicholas and Alexandra
starring Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Ian Holm, Michael Redgrave, Curt Jurgens, and Laurence Olivier
|
| Love and Death
starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
|
| Woyzeck
starring Klaus Kinski, Eva Mattes
|
| Angels and Insects
starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Patsy Kensit
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
