"Every intellectual, every artist uses, sooner or later. Tchekhov's work, and looks for Arianna's thread in his own life, in his own work. Tchekhov's classical realism represents a good school. This realism could be a good school for a lot of characters in my films and screenplays."

Vitautas Zaiakjavicjus

Based on a short story by Anton Chekhov, this film was the official Russian entrant at Venice in 1 980. Its convoluted story of a man who at first plans revenge and then can only give pity, is an unsentimental tale with a nice feeling for period and some fine acting. Particularly superb is the central role taken by Kajdanovsky. the actor best known for his stunning performance in Andrei Tarkovsky's most recent film Stalker.