Leo Tolstoy: Genius Alive
Leo Tolstoy: Genius Alive / Лев Толстой: Живой гений, 2010
21 November 2010, 6pm
A feature documentary based on archival footage of Leo Tolstoy made in 1908-1910 and carefully stored in the Russian State Archives of Film and Photo Documents (Krasnogorsk).
In 1908 in Yasnaya Polyana the first footage of Leo Tolstoy was shot secretly. Soon cameramen were officially allowed to film the 80-year anniversary of the writer. The footage, that brought to us the character of the living genius, contains exceptional moments – his family joyfully striking poses for the camera and Tolstoy himself, more interested in lonesome walks. The cameras see Tolstoy’s protégé and friend, Vladimir Chertkov, and the writer’s wife, Sofya Andreyevna.
Thanks to the improvement of digital technologies the restoration of the historical footage has been made possible and we are able for the first time can watch the great Leo Tolstoy and his family and the dramatic details of the last years of his life.