Film Adaptations of Russian Classics: Dialogism and Authorship

The book explores the film adaptations of Russian classics since the 1960s, highlighting the synergy between literature and cinema. It discusses the development of a literary-cinematic space characterized by dialogism and co-authorship with the source text. The filmmakers are seen as creative mediators between two cultures, reimagining the works of authors such as Goncharov, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Tolstoy in different contexts. The book examines various types of adaptation, including transposition, commentary, and analogy, and emphasizes the ideological and philosophical concerns of the day that shape the interpretation of the classics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Since the 1960s, Russian classics have been adapted into films, creating a unique literary-cinematic space that is characterized by a symbiotic relationship between its components. This synergy has been achieved through dialogue with and co-authorship in relation to the source text, resulting in a creative mediation between two cultures.

The volume examines several screen adaptations of works written by mid- and late nineteenth-century authors, who constitute the hallmark of the Russian cultural brand. These adaptations have found favor with audiences in Russia and in the West, reimagining the works of Goncharov, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Tolstoy in different contexts.

The book explores various types of adaptation, including transposition, commentary, and analogy. It focuses on the dialogue between established Russian and Western filmmakers and the classics that has taken place in the last 60 years. By foregrounding a synergetic literary-cinematic space, the book demonstrates how the director becomes a creative mediator between his audiences and the author, taking account of contemporary epistemological imperatives and the particularities of the reception by viewers.

The book also explores the ideological and/or philosophical concerns of the day as a lens for a specific reading of the novel, the story, or the play. It shows how the director uses his artistic vision to bring the essence of the original text to life, while also adapting it to the visual medium of film.

In conclusion, this volume provides a comprehensive examination of the film adaptations of Russian classics since the 1960s, highlighting the synergy between literature and cinema and the director's role as a creative mediator between two cultures. It is a valuable resource for scholars and students of film and literature, as well as anyone interested in the cultural exchange between Russia and the West.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474499132