A Wild Ride Through the Dark Ages: The Yuri Grymov Trilogy
add_circle Pros
- The production is massive and intricately crafted, with a huge cast and crew that really brings the story to life.
- The sets and costumes are incredible, with a level of detail that's hard to believe.
- The acting is top-notch, with the main actor delivering a performance that's both captivating and unsettling.
- The story is complex and thought-provoking, with a lot of depth and nuance that rewards close attention.
- The Modern Theater's production is a game-changer, with a level of quality that's exceptional even by international standards.
- The pacing is well-balanced, with a good mix of action and drama that keeps you engaged.
remove_circle Cons
- The production is very subjective, with a clear bias towards a dark and somber view of history.
- The main character is huge and complex, but also somewhat ambiguous, which can make it hard to connect with them.
- The pacing can be slow at times, which may test the patience of some viewers.
- Some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, which can make it hard to care about them.
- The production's focus on the dark side of history may not be to everyone's taste.
- The ending feels a bit rushed, which can leave you wanting more.
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Editor's Summary
I just finished watching the Yuri Grymov trilogy and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. The production is a real challenge, with a huge, complex main character that's painted with a single dark color. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you're up for it, you'll be rewarded with a thought-provoking experience that'll stay with you long after the credits roll.
Specifications
I just finished watching the Yuri Grymov trilogy, 'Antichrist and Christ,' at the Modern Theater, but I did it out of order - starting with 'Peter the Great.' It was a real challenge, let me tell you. I mean, I've seen some tough productions in my time, but this one took the cake.
I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - this was the toughest production I've ever had to wrap my head around. Maybe it was the main character - a huge, but super ambiguous, complex figure. I got the feeling that Peter's image was painted with one color only: dark, somber, just like the whole production.
The play is seriously dark, with most of the action taking place in a dimly lit, smoky atmosphere - either symbolizing the brutal times or amplifying the overall sense of unease, suspicion, and mistrust. And the pace? It's slow, dragging, like a sticky nightmare - I really missed the accents that could've grabbed my attention, but maybe that was the director's intention: to fully immerse the audience in the era, as he sees it.
On one hand, Yuri Grymov stuck to his style with a carefully crafted set, precise 'stop-motion' scenes, minimalist decorations, and lighting work, but this time, I felt like it was missing some dynamism, unexpected contrasts, and highlights to latch onto. The musical arrangement was also surprisingly subdued, without the paradoxical track choices that are characteristic of the director's style.
Against this dark, minimalist backdrop, the focus was on the actors' performances, and Yuri Anpilogov stood out as the whole production's linchpin - a hard, sometimes brutal, ruler, husband, and father, who finally reveals his True self in the end, weak and vulnerable, willing to sacrifice himself for the country's prosperity.
The rest of the cast (a significant portion of the troupe) looked like extras in a political game, playing their roles as marionettes. Alexander Borisov and his rebellious Avramov stood out, as did Bogdan Shchukin's Peter the Tsarevich, with his turmoil and passions, making him the most human character. Marina Dianova's fussy fop, with her biting wit, was also memorable.
The production left me with a somber aftertaste, and I'm not ready to re-watch it anytime soon, but as the first part of the trilogy, I think it's essential to see to understand the director's overall vision and form your own opinion about the trilogy as a whole.