Confusing History, unforgetable Story...

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2001)

The Good stuff:
The "Black & White" images with color at the begining, specially the red star when the workers "punch out" brilliant! All the big name actors (just one american!). The story's span of about 50 years. The set design, in those days before CGI, they had to drape the far countryside in white plastic to simulate snow!
The Bad stuff:
The unclear "disease" of Lara's mother (couldn't elaborate for censorship reasons). The slightly repetitive Jarre music. The too obvious "plastic" (fake) touches; the falling sunflower petals when Lara leaves, the "ice castle" (abandoned house sequences), though in those times such resources were quite original and unused. Zhivago's spectator/narrator role, makes him seem too pasive.
The Verdict:
An ambitious, slightly political, personal, romantic and great film that has aged well.