"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love."
This quote begins the movie. Most simply, the movie is about love. Tolstoy had many other beliefs and politics in his life but this movie only brushes upon them. "The Last Station" explores the meaning of love for many of it's characters: Sofya for her love for Lev. Chertkov for his love for the movement. Bulgakov for his confusion on where his love should be after entering into Tolstoy's home and commune. Masha for what seems to be the movement but becomes love for Bulgakov by the end of the film. Lev for his love of his teachings and ideals.
Love is forgiving and all encompassing. When love is felt for another human being in this film, it is vividly shown and understood. In my mind, Sofya's cry begging Lev for forgiveness at the end of the movie is what this "love" is about. What the film fails to show is Lev's reciprocation, or need for forgiveness at the end of his life (which historically Lev did want but was not allowed to get).
Lev's love for mankind, for unity, for equality - was that out of love for others? Or, were his social beliefs fighting against the guidelines of religion and government because these were guidelines he did not wish to take upon himself? The obvious effect that Lev's non-Tolstoyan personality has on Bulgakov is clearly shown in the "The Last Station".
An interesting movie for sure, well acted, a good script and beautiful surroundings. The film dances around religion: Sofya praying after Lev leaves, a Priest on the train, people singing a prayer after Lev's death (still sung in churches now), the icons in Lev's room on his deathbed. The Christian Orthodox undertone in the movie is mostly unspoken, but it is there: the love for one another is one of unsurmountable importance.
This quote begins the movie. Most simply, the movie is about love. Tolstoy had many other beliefs and politics in his life but this movie only brushes upon them. "The Last Station" explores the meaning of love for many of it's characters: Sofya for her love for Lev. Chertkov for his love for the movement. Bulgakov for his confusion on where his love should be after entering into Tolstoy's home and commune. Masha for what seems to be the movement but becomes love for Bulgakov by the end of the film. Lev for his love of his teachings and ideals.
Love is forgiving and all encompassing. When love is felt for another human being in this film, it is vividly shown and understood. In my mind, Sofya's cry begging Lev for forgiveness at the end of the movie is what this "love" is about. What the film fails to show is Lev's reciprocation, or need for forgiveness at the end of his life (which historically Lev did want but was not allowed to get).
Lev's love for mankind, for unity, for equality - was that out of love for others? Or, were his social beliefs fighting against the guidelines of religion and government because these were guidelines he did not wish to take upon himself? The obvious effect that Lev's non-Tolstoyan personality has on Bulgakov is clearly shown in the "The Last Station".
An interesting movie for sure, well acted, a good script and beautiful surroundings. The film dances around religion: Sofya praying after Lev leaves, a Priest on the train, people singing a prayer after Lev's death (still sung in churches now), the icons in Lev's room on his deathbed. The Christian Orthodox undertone in the movie is mostly unspoken, but it is there: the love for one another is one of unsurmountable importance.