A myriad of emotions, elegantly served. Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov (his first movie outside the USSR), the film brought a Soviet and Italian cast and crew together, and the result was a new, cross-cultural interpretation of the Chekhov stories upon which the film is based.
Set at the turn of the century, the film stars Mastroianni as Romano, a paunchy, alcoholic waiter who works in the dining room of a cruise ship. While voyaging from Greece to Italy, he meets Pavel (Vsevolod Larionov), a jovial Russian on his honeymoon with his much younger wife. Romano begins to
reminisce, and the film goes to flashback. As young architecture student, Romano falls in love with Elisa (Silvana Mangano), a wealthy heiress, despite the objections of her high-society family.
He eventually leaves her and retreats to a lavish health spa. He finds willing young ladies to sleep with, pulls an occasional practical joke, watches old women racing through the marble-columned grounds in their wheelchairs, wanders about the beautifully manicured lawns, and eats extravagant
meals. He meets Anna Sergeyevna (Elena Sofonova), a timid, lovely, easily embarrassed young woman with dark eyes and a lapdog. Mesmerized by her presence and the magical sparkle of her hat pin, Romano becomes obsessed.
Mastroianni is superb: his performance won the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival. However, it is not his performance alone that makes DARK EYES so enjoyable; there is also the discovery (for Western audiences) of the lovely Sofonova, a Soviet actress whose combination of fragility and
strength is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. leave a comment