History well reflected

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2004)

The main feature of 20th century European history is the rise and fall of political totalitarian systems. Such as Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany, and - most important - Communism in Russia. This epic movie reflects very well the turmoils caused by the Russian revolution of 1917. Love, terror, hunger, war, torn families, despotism, death and a new kind of society: it's all in there.
I consider Dr Zhivago as one of the greatest movies ever made. It reminds me of that other great epic movie: Gone with the wind.
Dr Zhivago also produced a world-famous melody: Lara's theme. Both being children of the sixties, for this reason my wife and I named our second daughter Lara.
It should not be overlooked however, that Dr Zhivago really is Russia seen by the western mind. For instance, when Zhivago meets his legal wife Tonya, who returns from a trip to Paris, on a Moscow railway station, the welcoming between the couple is pretty cold and heartless - in Russian eyes. For a Westerner it's a perfect welcome for a loving couple, though.