In May of this year, Mikhail Shevchuk's film "Masquerade" was released. The premiere was quiet and unnoticed. For better or worse – we figure it out in our article.

19th Century Lermontov. Ideas and History

The film, as is not hard to guess, is based on Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov's play "Masquerade." The drama's hero, Arbenin, is endowed with a rebellious spirit, intelligence, strong will, and means. But, being connected to high society by birth and upbringing, he vainly strives to gain independence and freedom. He lives by the laws of this society and, trying to defend his honor, blinded by jealousy and pride, commits the murder of his wife.

21st Century Lermontov. What Changed and Was It for the Better?

Now the action has moved from the dark and cabinet-like imperial St. Petersburg to sunny Yalta of our time. Now the heroes wear expensive velvet suits, shiny dresses, and their conversations take place against the backdrop of the sea, sun, or expensive pools.

Arbenin (Alexey Faddeev) has now become a former fencer with a difficult fate, who became a professional card sharp and is married to the sweet model Nina (Anastasia Shevchuk). They are surrounded by the same characters – business partner Kazarin (Daniil Spivakovsky), young rich playboy Zvezdich (Anar), and art curator Shtral (Valeriya Shkirando).

Will Everything Change with Just One Letter?

So, what changes have occurred compared to the original plot, and have they benefited the project? Moving it to the present day is not a new solution. Visually, it is similar to Hamlet. XXI Century. Lermontov's text is preserved in the new realities, and the imagery of modern bars, ideas, and explicit scenes seems to return the story to the author's original intent. Lermontov wanted to show the sharp passions of the world. And in this, the relocation works in its favor.

The musical inserts are also interesting. Small performances by the characters set to various texts of Lermontov's works. Here you can hear the poems "The Rusalka" and "I Do Not Love You and I Love..." Here you can feel rock motifs, interesting arrangements, and a new life for well-known lines.

And it turns out that where Lermontov is present, everything is good and to some extent even watchable. But where the creators decided to add something of their own, the overall impression of the film changes dramatically.

We are told in detail the story of Evgeny. As it turns out, he is a fencer betrayed by friends, who was placed in a psychiatric hospital, where he acquires his card sharp skills. From there he escapes, like Rambo, fights evil spirits, gains magical abilities, and can now influence the fates of the characters through card conspiracies and transferring their consciousness to other worlds. Shtral, meanwhile, is haunted by a strange creature, more reminiscent of the girl from "The Ring" – the creators don't even explain who it is.

And so, after rereading the previous paragraph, one wants to grab one's head and ask "Why?!" Because if it weren't for all this extraneous material, the project could have turned out decent. But something clearly went wrong. It seems the quiet premiere only benefited the project. Because it came and went, thank God. You can pay attention to this project if you want to listen to Lermontov's works again, but it's better not to look at the screen. That's the kind of "Masquerade" this is.

Trailer: