This Tolstoy story follows Prince Kossotski and his journey of joining the army and falling in love with Countess Korotbova who is the emperors mistress. In his discovering of this it shocks him to such an extent that he decides to enter the monastery. His entering the monastery shows his despised of everything that seemed important to others. Especially towards his family, as it was his father's dying wish to pursue a career in the army. It's a bit ironic how this man who was characterized from the gecko as having a violent temperament, which can clearly been seen when he is arguing about the pork chops being inedible to his superior. Can suddenly decide to resign and become a monk. The portraying of priesthood in this film is entirely controversial. After watching this film one can clearly tell why it wasn't shown to the public until May 1918 even though production was completed months before the October Revolution. Tolstoy's novel is challenging what the church stands for and proclaiming that even something that is seen as the most brilliant position of high society is influenced by corruption and human weakness. Mosjoukine does a terrific job in portraying Father Sergius as a distraught persona caught in between duty and passion. Sergius is constantly battling temptation, his desire to return to the army and his desire of wanting to be with a woman. In order to avoid temptations he becomes a hermit in a desert, but is still constantly struggling and in the end is seduced. A frank denunciation of the official church.
Review of Otets Sergiy
