An Artist's Story (1974)

In late 19th century Russia, an artist (Patrick Stewart) living in the country becomes involved with two sisters. One (Meg Wynn Owen) does good deeds for the poor and has a slight contempt for the artist while her younger sister (Emma Williams) hopes to learn from him. Based on a short story by Anton Chekhov, this is a slight piece that pits the artist whose search for truth he considers more important than anything against the older sister who feels his search for truth is merely a justification for doing nothing in helping the poor and oppressed. Will the search for truth free the peasants and thus release them from hard labor and poverty or must we do what we can to alleviate their suffering even if only temporary. Chekhov seems to be slightly disposed to the artist's argument but the story's ambivalence never lets us know sure. Directed by David Jones. With Brenda Bruce and Philip Locke.