Fine film poor transfer to DVD
Kozintsev was one of the great Russian directors, and his films of King Lear and Hamlet (available on DVD from Facets) are among the best - especially interesting because they give a Russian perspective on the themes of these familiar plays, as Kurosawa gives a Japanese perspective to King Lear (in Ran) and Macbeth (in Throne of Blood). I saw an archival print of Kozintsev's Don Quixote (in Russian with subtitles) many years ago. Seeing the aged Nikolai Cherkassov play the delusional would-be hero (decades after playing the Russian hero Alexamder Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible in Eisenstein's films) was very moving. Inevitably, the film greatly simplified Cervantes' sprawling novel, but the performances and cinematography still left a vivid memory.
Unfortunately, the DVD from Corinth has only dubbed English dialog (no menu or choices) and a murky transfer of the original color photography. So my rating is for the film, not their DVD transfer. In contrast, Facets did an...
a masterpiece of cinema
After reading "too many books" about chivalry, Alonso Quijano decides to change his name to Don Quixote and personally rekindle chivalry in the world. This middle-aged man images the world to be much more colourful and romantic than it actually is, giving much amusement to all of those that observe him. For Don Quixote, an inn is a castle; wine jugs are perceived as small ogres and a windmill is a grand monster. Don Quixote doesn't save the world all by himself as he recruits a peasant in his village named Sancho Panza to be his quire by wooing him with eloquent words about bravery and adventure. Don Quixote and his squire are out to be the heroes of their day, however this role isn't an easy one as so many people (including Don Quixote's own family) not only stand in their way, but also actively discourage them from going out to help others.
Despite his best efforts to do well and make the world a better place his actions rarely result in anything improving, and more often...
A sublime masterpiece of the cinema!
This adaptation from the most famous and relevant literary jewel in Spanish language, has been regarded for many like the most successful until this date.
Starred by the great Russian actor Nicolai Tcherkasov as the ingenuous Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (Alexander Nevski)and costarred by Vladimir Tovtbiev as his inseparable Sancho Panza, the great Kozintsev knew how to handle and impress it with that demanded human candor, slender doses of humor and penetrating humanity without falling into stereotypes .
The sequence of the windmills was treated with admirable poetry and expressive eloquence. This is a true masterwork all the way through.
Don't miss it.
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