The Cherry Orchard (1981)

In early 20th century Russia, an impoverished aristocrat (Judi Dench) and her entourage return from Paris to her family estate shortly before it is set to be auctioned off to pay the mortgage. Based on the 1904 play by Anton Chekhov and directed by Richard Eyre. Of all Chekhov's major works, I find this one the most difficult to enjoy. It's beautifully written for sure but there's such a despair in watching the effete aristocracy flounder because of its own ineptitude and inability or unwillingness to adapt themselves to the new world. One shouldn't feel such sadness for an outdated class system especially one that exploited the lower classes (the serfs were emancipated in 1861) I suppose nor is there much sympathy for the new bourgeois embracing materialism. The acting is very good for the most part though Bill Paterson's Scottish accent as Lopakhin seems out place when everyone is playing Russian and using standard English. With Anna Massey, Timothy Spall, Anton Lesser and Harriet Walter.