Louis Malle and theatre director André Gregory meet at a hot-dog stand on 42nd street in New York. The pair are slowly joined by a company of actors and all go together to a run-down theatre where Gregory is holding rehearsals for 'Uncle Vanya'.

To some, Chekhov is the quintessential Russian playwright - master of atmosphere and longing, a poet of the quotidien. But to others, Chekov is as relevant to contemporary society as any living playwright.

Louis Malle's remarkable Vanya on 42nd Street, adapted by David Mamet, believes in both. When the cast move from their idle chatter before rehearsing to the actual rehearsal itself, the change is fluid, nothing seems to be different - except their names.

Their portrayal of a family entangled in itself, a failed intellectual and a idealistic but weary doctor is an elegy to frustrated love and lost opportunities. Malle's last film captures the immediacy of theatre with the intimacy of film.

No gimmicks here, Vanya on 42nd Street is not a set up, it is simply what it claims to be.

Director Malle films André Gregory's cast rehearsing for their production. At the same time, you realise quite how wonderful theatre is, and quite how wonderful film is for letting you into Chekhov's secret.

Monika Maurer

Prod co: The Vanya Company

Inc Dir: Louis Malle

Scr: David Mamet

Ph: Declan Quinn

Mus: Joshua Redman

Cast: Wallace Shawn, Julianne Moore, Larry Pine, Brooke Smith

Running time: 119 mins

International sales: Mayfair

Screening: 26 June, 17.30. Lucerna

[Home ] [Content ] [The Sponsors ] [The Team ] [Comments ] [Help ]