In a Russian resort town on the Black Sea coast, Laevsky (Andrew Scott) arrives with another man's wife Nadya (Fiona Glascott). Her husband died and Laevsky is keeping it a secret. He grows unstable and desperate to leave for St. Petersburg by himself. Von Koren (Tobias Menzies) is a zoologist taken with the new theory of evolution. He looks down on Laevsky. Laevsky deteriorates and in a fit of rage, he challenges Von Koren. Von Koren surprises everyone by accepting the drunken challenge to a duel.
With the natural lights, long takes, and natural exteriors, this has the uncommon feel of a staged reality. Scott and Glascott are great. Scott is playing this character for all he's worth. The story meanders with wild characterization from Scott until a very tense duel in the end. It would help to set up Laevsky and Nadya's relationship more. The story has no driving force and it relies on the character study.
With the natural lights, long takes, and natural exteriors, this has the uncommon feel of a staged reality. Scott and Glascott are great. Scott is playing this character for all he's worth. The story meanders with wild characterization from Scott until a very tense duel in the end. It would help to set up Laevsky and Nadya's relationship more. The story has no driving force and it relies on the character study.