The Idiot (1958) movie review

The Idiot (1958), based on the book by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Synopsis
My overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This was one of those films that you don't completely enjoy but finish it anyway.  It's even more unusual because it's two hours long yet only covers the first half of the story (if that).  In some ways, it might be for the best--the first half makes for a better ending than the second half, though if you haven't read the book it will seem exceedingly abrupt.

What I loved about this adaptation is Prince Myshkin.  He's practically perfect casting (apart from the "crazy eyes", a common attribute in this movie).  Just as in the book, Myshkin is the driving character in the story, and Yuriy Yakovlev is able to capture his whole range of personality--naivete, pity, nervousness, and grief.  In the book, Myshkin becomes weaker and weaker towards the ending, but had they filmed the second half, I think Myshkin would certainly have come across as likeable as he is at the start.

Another pro is the fact this movie is in Russian.  Having tried to watch the War & Peace miniseries a couple of weeks ago, I can vouch that watching Brits portray Russians is as distracting as watching Americans play Austrians.  So The Idiot, fortunately, is in Russian with decent English subtitles, and the frequent overacting is sometimes a bonus for non-Russian speakers who can't understand the nuances.

At the same time, the overacting is a con.  PEOPLE SCREAM A LOT IN THIS MOVIE.  It gets wearisome.

There's a couple instances of nasty name-calling--other than that, it's a family-friendly film.  Just as in the book, Myshkin stands out as an humble, forgiving character when everyone else is swallowed up in their bitterness.  The proposal scene was particularly well-done. The sets are very dark, and practically every house is decorated in red--think the Nautilus submarine, only darker. 

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film unless you are looking for an adaptation of the book.  It's incomplete and very slow-paced.  However, if you're bored, or simply interested in watching a Russian-language film, you might find The Idiot worthwhile.