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Film Stills (click for a hi-res image)

Von Koren (Tobias Menzies) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Laevsky (Andrew Scott) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Nadya (Fiona Glascott) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Laevsky (Andrew Scott) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

(Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Nadya (Fiona Glascott) (Courtesy of Music Box Films)

Anton Chekhov’s The Duel

directed by Dover Koshashvili
starring Andrew Scott, Fiona Glascott, Tobias Menzies, Niall Buggy, Nicholas Rowe

In Anton Chekhov’s The Duel, escalating animosity between two men with opposing philosophies of life is played out against the backdrop of a decaying seaside resort along the Black Sea coast. Laevsky is a dissipated romantic given to gambling and flirtation. He has run off to the sea with beautiful, emotionally empty, Nadya, another man’s wife. Laevsky has now grown tired of her, but two obstacles block his route to escape: he is broke, and he faces the absolute enmity of Von Koren, an arrogant zoologist and former friend who can no longer tolerate Laevsky’s irresponsibility. Soon Laevsky confronts Von Koren, accusing him of meddling in his affairs, but Von Koren maneuvers a criticism Laevsky makes of their mutual friend, Dr. Samoylenko, into a challenge to a duel. Utterly discombobulated and honor bound, Laevsky agrees to this absurdity — a duel it shall be! A duel as comically inadvertent as it is inevitable.

Press Reactions

4 STARS! Deft, droll and languorously sexy…. This film is indeed something like a miracle. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
At the heart of this film, which goes to the heart of Chekhov, is a deep understanding of human nature, human strength and human need. This is smart, inspired, no-fuss entertainment." —San Francisco Chronicle
Chekhov never offered a more tempting sample of sexual ripeness… —New Yorker

Technical Information

Production Year: 2009
Countries of Production: United Kingdom
Languages: English
Running Time: 95
Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: Dolby Digital
Color: Color
Rating: unrated