Is The Anxious Night Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1958)
The action takes place on one of the nights in October 1917 and is limited to the walls of a St. Petersburg apartment occupied by the wealthy noble family of the Starodubtsevs. The elder sister Anna (Elena Kuzmina) is a helpless, spoiled woman, far from life. She is unable to understand that her husband, Lieutenant Almazov, is one of the leaders of the counter-revolutionary conspiracy. The younger sister Maria has already chosen her path - she is with the revolutionaries, with the Bolsheviks. The landlord Yarlykov, having lost everything, dreams of running away from Russia, taking with him something more valuable. In the dramatic events taking place in the Starodubtsev family, echoes of the huge, decisive clashes of the revolution are guessed.
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of Drama, TV Movie cinema, then The Anxious Night offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 1958 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
The Narrative Arc & Core Premise
In the evolving tapestry of Drama, TV Movie cinema, the 1958 release of The Anxious Night stands as a landmark endeavor that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into The action takes place on one of the nights in October 1917 and is limited to the walls of a St. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama, TV Movie are tested.
The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "The action takes place on one of the nights in October 1917 and is limited to the walls of a St. Petersburg apartment occupied by the wealthy noble family of the Starodubtsevs. The elder sister Anna (Elena Kuzmina) is a helpless, spoiled woman, far from life. She is unable to understand that her husband, Lieutenant Almazov, is one of the leaders of the counter-revolutionary conspiracy. The younger sister Maria has already chosen her path - she is with the revolutionaries, with the Bolsheviks. The landlord Yarlykov, having lost everything, dreams of running away from Russia, taking with him something more valuable. In the dramatic events taking place in the Starodubtsev family, echoes of the huge, decisive clashes of the revolution are guessed."
Artistic Execution & Performance Study
A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. The presence of Boris Chirkov provides a necessary level of professionalism to the production, even when the underlying script struggles to maintain a consistent tone. It is a testament to their skill that they remain the most engaging element of the film.
The direction by Tatyana Berezantseva is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its N/A minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.
Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch
Is The Anxious Night truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, TV Movie, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.
The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.
Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision
At a deeper level, The Anxious Night explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 1958 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Tatyana Berezantseva respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.
The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.
Final Editorial Recommendation
Ultimately, The Anxious Night is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Boris Chirkov or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, The Anxious Night is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.