The Idiot

| 1958

Directed by: Ivan Pyrev

Main Plot

"The Idiot," directed by Ivan Pyrev, is a film adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel. The story revolves around Prince Myshkin, a kind-hearted and naive man who returns to Russia after spending years in a Swiss sanatorium. His innocence and honesty starkly contrast with the deceit and manipulation he encounters in society. Myshkin becomes entangled in a complex web of relationships involving two women: the beautiful but troubled Nastasya Filippovna and the virtuous Aglaya Yepanchina. As he navigates these tumultuous connections, Myshkin's genuine nature exposes the moral decay and hypocrisy of those around him. The film delves into themes of love, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil, ultimately portraying the tragic consequences of a pure soul confronting a corrupt world.

Characters

  • Yuriy Yakovlev portrays General Ivolgin, a comical, unreliable character whose delusions and fabrications add complexity and humor to the narrative.
  • Yuliya Borisova portrays Nastasya Filippovna, a complex character whose beauty and tragic past drive much of the novel's conflict and emotional turmoil.
  • Nikita Podgorny is a minor character, a general in the Russian army. He plays a peripheral role, mainly serving as a background figure in the social setting.

Ending Explained

'The Idiot,' directed by Ivan Pyrev, is a film adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel. The movie concludes with a tragic and intense climax that encapsulates the central themes of innocence, love, and the destructive nature of human passions. Prince Myshkin, the protagonist, finds himself entangled in a complex love triangle involving the beautiful but troubled Nastasya Filippovna and the passionate Rogozhin. In the final scenes, Myshkin arrives at Rogozhin's house, where he discovers Nastasya's lifeless body, having been murdered by Rogozhin in a fit of jealous rage. The two men, both deeply affected by their love for Nastasya, share a moment of profound despair and mutual understanding. Myshkin's reaction to the tragedy underscores his inherent goodness and compassion, even in the face of such horror. The film ends with Myshkin's mental collapse, symbolizing the ultimate failure of innocence and purity in a world rife with corruption and moral decay. This poignant conclusion highlights the novel's exploration of the complexities of human nature and the often-destructive consequences of intense emotional entanglements.

Ivan Pyrev Drama Yuriy Yakovlev Yuliya Borisova Nikita Podgorny