Product: The Idiot (4 DVD Set)
Rating: 5.0
An inspired "Idiot"
This has to be the best ensemble acting I've seen in years. Yevgeny Mironov does a stupendous job with this role: he is shy, simple-appearing, self-effacing but innately intuitive and heart-piercing as Prince Myshkin. The other actors are all superbly chosen: Elizaveta Profievna, Rogozhin and Lebedyev stand out in my mind. My one quibble might be the casting choice for Nastasya Fillipovna, but then, her character is larger than life; it's doubtful that anyone could capture her nature as Dostoevsky describes her.The locales, costumes, even the cadence of Russian phrasing no longer heard faithfully conjure the atmosphere of late 19th century Russia. I agree with the comments about the subtitles, which indeed are horrible. After awhile, I abandoned them and listened to the Russian dialogue, which when spoken slowly, was comprehensible. I admit to becoming lost when the action heated up and characters spoke so fast, they almost spoke over each other.I liked this version so well, I plan to buy it and watch it many more times. A commendable effort for recent Russian cinema. Also recommended: The First Circle, the Master and Margarita and the State Councillor (all are 2005 films, I believe).