David Lean's Doctor Zhivago

David Lean at the Cinematheque Ontario

When I think of British director David Lean, I recall the epics he made during my impressionable years at the cinema.  It was the 60’s and 70’s when his greatest and most lavish productions “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, and even the less successful “Ryan’s Daughter” stunned and astounded audiences around the world.  To me, I always looked upon a new Lean film as an event – and one that I would look forward to. 

After gaining experience as an apprentice in film editing, Lean made many films from the Noel Coward plays, Charles Dickens books to literary adaptations, the best of which were with collaborators cinematographer Freddie Young and writer Robert Bolt.  My favourite Lean film and to me the best war film ever made is “The Bridge on the River Kwai”.  That film boasts the best of Lean’s irony – personified in the film by the pompousness of the Alec Guinness British character, who felt it right to show the true British spirit by rallying fellow POWs to build the bridge, discovering only later that its construction would put the allies steps behind in their fight for victory during WWII.

For the first time, Cinematheque Ontario presents a retro on Lean’s films.  See all or as many as you can.  For the complete schedule and ticket pricing, check the Cinematheque website at:
http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca

Please note that a few of the films are listed in the classics Sundays section including “The Bridge on the River Kwai”.  Films have never been so cinematic since.

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (USA 1965) *****
Directed by David Lean

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO though based on Boris Pasternak’s Nobel Prize winning literary novel is pure cinematic escapist drama centering on the romance between the physician (Omar Sharif) and violent, passionate yet sensitive Lara (Julie Christie).  The backdrop is the Bolshevik Revolution which drives Zhivago, a man of peace into fighting desperately for the survival of his family and loved one.  The film also stars Geraldine Chaplin as Zhivago’s fragile wife, Ralph Richardson as his adopted father and Tom Courtenay as Lara’s husband, Pacha the man of the revolution who ends up shooting his brains out (off screen).  DOCTOR ZHIVAGO is filmmaking at its best, Lean working with his best collaborators cinematographer Freddie Young and scriptwriter Robert Bolt.

Lean’s images are arresting from the beginning of his film with the young Zhivago looking out into the vast snowy wastelands of the Russian Urals through the frosted window with a branch tapping on it as if beckoning the boy.  The scene later on in the film, of the little figures in the distance filling up the big cinemascope screen as the marching protestors turn around a corner is reminiscent of Peter O’Toole first appearing as a speck on the screen in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.  The film’s story moves briskly efficiently capturing a vast portion of Russian history.  Lean loves playing with mirrors (Lara and the beaten up husband in front of one; Lara’s gown), ambiguities (the interpretation of the death of Pacha from the fallen spectacles), ironies (the timing of the announcement of Zhivago’s engagement with Lara’s shooting) and wry humour (Zhivago throwing his enemy’s cigar into the toilet bowl with a flick).  But it is Lean’s genius for sheer spectacle (the train chugging along in the wintry Urals; the massacre of the protestors) that makes DOCTOR ZHIVAGO such a magnificent classic.

This is one film (over 3 hours) that has made my fourth complete viewing.  Winner of 5 Oscars including one for Bolt’s script, one for Young’s cinematography and one for Maurice Jarre’s original musical score which includes the haunting and unforgettable Lara’s theme.

Trailer:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=wAWrXTn5Www

Screening: October 24th – Friday.  7 pm