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Platonov is the name in English given to an early, untitled play in four acts
written by Anton Chekhov in 1878. It was the first large-scale drama by Chekhov,
written specifically for Maria Yermolova, rising star of Maly Theatre. Yermolova
rejected the play and it was not published until 1923.
The lead character is Mikhail Platonov, a disillusioned provincial schoolmaster.
The play is set in a dilapidated country house in the Russian provinces.
Landowner Anna Petrovna, Sofia Yegorovna, wife of Anna Petrovna's stepson, and
one of his colleagues fall in love with the married Platonov. He thinks society
is without ideas and principles, but is aware that he himself is very much part
of that society. He is compared to Hamlet and Don Juan, and likes to think of
himself as a witty and intellectually stimulating entertainer. In the end, he
recognizes his hopeless position between the four women and retreats into
alcohol. Finally, Sofia understands that she cannot hope for a new life with
Platonov and shoots him. |
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Missed the Oscars! Because
Michael was doing this play, he was not able to attend
the Oscars that year in which "As It is in Heaven" was
nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Theater
director Staffan Valdemar Holm asked the film producers
to buy two performances for 150,000 SEK but they
refused. Producer Birkeland said, "It would be
completely crazy to spend so much money on such a thing.
The money would be more useful if you sent it to Asia
for disaster relief". The film's director Kay Pollack
and actress Frida Hallgren attended the ceremony.
Pollack said, "The Oscars was a perfect opportunity for
Michael to show up internationally. Sad that it was like
this. Really." As for Michael, he felt the producers
should have paid. He said, "If you have a main role, you
are a promoter of the film. But they did not think so."
"Michael Nyqvist makes a strong interpretation of
a carefree Platonov, which, without further reflection,
unfolds in relationships with four different women at
the same time." ...Theater
critic Sthig Jonasson
"Michael Nyqvist is doing one
of his best efforts ever and speaks out his role-playing
vibe with a record so dazzling that people in Platonov's
surroundings do not see their real misery... It's
a pleasure to see this variety of old and young drama
actors interact at this high level. In addition to
Michael Nyqvist's driving game in the center of all,
one can mention, for example, Lena Endre's sharp
interpretation of female loneliness and Marie
Richardson's frustrated middle class mother. ...Björn
Gustavsson, CafeCreme
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