In collaboration with Seagull Films, Pera Film presents "The Sky Sparkles: In Praise of Chekhov," a program consisting of movie adaptations of Chekhov's accomplished works, through the lens of predominantly Soviet and Russian filmmakers. Uniting with some of his friends in the late 1980s, theater director Andre Gregory started rehearsals for the new interpretation of "Uncle Vanya" by David Mamet. He was mainly interested in examining the delicate structure and beauty of Chekhov's play rather than staging it. One of Gregory's friends, Louis Malle became interested in this project and filmed the whole process while Gregory's actors were staging Uncle Vanya without an audience in a ramshackle theater near Times Square in New York. While these performances are slowly sliding into staging Chekhov's classical play in perfection - holding paper coffee cups and wearing everyday casual clothing - the line between theater and the real life becomes slightly blurred. The film stars Wallace Shawn as Vanya, Julianne Moore as Yelena, Brooke Smith as Sonya and Larry Pine as Dr. Astrov. A great adaptation of the play which questions people's lives and their deeds, this film has ironically become Louis Malle's last work since he died of cancer in 1995.
When: Feb. 12, Feb. 20
Where: Pera Museum
