THE CHERRY ORCHARD (1999)

Excepting Louis Malle ’s VANYA ON 42^ND ST, many’s the filmmaker who’s come to grief adapting Anton Chekhov. So, all credit to Michael Cacoyannis for bringing off as much as he does in his respectful, non-reverent transfer. Charlotte Rampling & Alan Bates are superb while Owen Teale’s blunt, sympathetic Lopahin & Gerald Butler’s wonderfully smug Yasha also stand out. Cacoyannis’s Chekhov portends 1917 as clearly as Beaumarchais saw 1789 in his FIGARO plays (after the fact, of course.). And though Cacoyannis may push the premonitory aspects a bit hard, he never ignores Chekhov’s affection toward his delusional players in the midst of societal disintegration A bit of patience is required, but there’s a legitimate payoff.