The Precipice (1984)
A sweeping Soviet drama of passion, nihilism, and moral reckoning, set on the sun-drenched banks of the Volga River.
The Precipice - Movie Information
- Original Title: Обрыв
- Release Year: 1984
- Directed by: Vladimir Vengerov
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 2h 16m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 19, 1984 (SU)
- Production Companies: Lenfilm
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
The Precipice - Plot
Boris Pavlovich Raisky, a bored Petersburg aesthet, comes to his family estate in a small town on the Volga. He hoped to find boredom and the faint-hearted provincials there, and did not expect that in the outback he was waiting for real life, dramatic love and serious passions. Boris Raisky's estate is a blessed corner where everything pleases the eye: a native old house, tender greenery of birches and lindens, a silver strip of the Volga in the distance. And only a mysterious precipice at the end of the garden frightens the inhabitants of the estate. According to legend, at the bottom of it in ancient times, a jealous husband killed his wife and rival. "Precipice" is a symbolic word in the fate of the main character Vera. It fell to her to fall in love with a nihilist and a cynic who preaches "love for a term", painfully choose between feeling and duty, finally, go down to her beloved person in a cliff, cut off everything that connected with her former life...
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The Precipice - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Vladimir Vengerov
Main Cast
- Georgiy Antonov
- Elena Finogeeva
- Nikolay Kochegarov
- Rimma Markova
- Marina Yakovleva
- Yelena Solovey
- Vitaliy Shapovalov
- Nikolay Ivanov
- Tamara Lebedeva
- Oleg Korchikov
Writers
- Vladimir Vengerov
The Precipice - FAQs
Is The Precipice based on a novel?
Yes. The Precipice is a film adaptation of Ivan Goncharov's celebrated 1869 Russian novel of the same name. Goncharov's work is considered one of the great achievements of 19th-century Russian literature, exploring themes of idealism, nihilism, and the conflict between duty and passion.
Where can you watch The Precipice online?
Streaming availability for The Precipice varies by region. You can check current viewing options, including any rental or subscription platforms carrying this 1984 Soviet drama, via JustWatch, which aggregates up-to-date streaming information for your location.
Who are the main actors in The Precipice?
The Precipice stars Georgiy Antonov as Raisky and Elena Finogeeva as Vera in the central roles. The supporting cast includes Nikolay Kochegarov, Rimma Markova, Marina Yakovleva, Yelena Solovey, and Vitaliy Shapovalov, among others.
What is The Precipice (1984) about?
The film follows Boris Raisky, a jaded Petersburg intellectual who retreats to his ancestral Volga estate expecting provincial dullness. Instead, he witnesses the passionate and tragic story of Vera, a young woman torn between love for a nihilist and the weight of moral duty, set against a landscape haunted by legend.
Who directed The Precipice in 1984?
The Precipice was directed by Vladimir Vengerov, a Soviet filmmaker associated with Lenfilm studio. Vengerov also wrote the screenplay for the film, adapting Goncharov's sprawling 19th-century novel for the screen.
What does the precipice symbolize in the film?
The precipice is both a physical location and a powerful symbol. Rooted in local legend — a jealous husband once killed his wife and rival at its base — it represents the point of no return for Vera, who descends into it as an act of surrender to forbidden love, severing ties with her former life.
What language is The Precipice filmed in?
The Precipice is filmed entirely in Russian. It is a Soviet production made at Lenfilm studio and released in the Soviet Union in January 1984.
How long is The Precipice (1984)?
The Precipice has a runtime of 136 minutes, or approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes. The film's length allows it to explore the emotional depth and complexity of Goncharov's source novel with considerable care.
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