Anton Chekhov's "The Duel"

The New York Times Critics’ Pick ANTON CHEKHOV’S THE DUEL breathes new life into a classic Chekhovian tale. Working with the master cinematographer Paul Sarossy (The Sweet Hereafter), Director, Dover Kosashvili (Late Marriage) has made a gorgeously cinematic and accessible movie that is sensuous, passionate, dramatic and peppered with delightful moments of levity inherent to the great novella. Set in a seaside resort in the Caucasus, the story centers on Laevsky (Andrew Scott), an aristocratic civil servant, and his mistress Nadya (Fiona Glascott). Laevsky has convinced Nadya to leave her husband for him, but now wants to abandon her. A brilliant ensemble cast of British actors strikes just the right balance.

Born in Soviet Georgia in 1966, Dover Koshashvili emigrated to Israel as a young child. His first feature, LATE MARRIAGE, from his own screenplay, was released in 2001 to considerable critical acclaim, having been screened in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival. It is winner of multiple international awards, including Best Director and Best Screenplay in Israel. In 2003, Koshashvili released a second feature, GIFT FROM ABOVE, which received eleven nominations from the Israeli Film Academy. ANTON CHEKHOV’S THE DUEL is his third feature.

“ADULTERY, BETRAYAL, BLACKMAIL! The most successful literary adaptation I've seen since Pascal Ferran's 2006 Lady Chatterley.” -- J. Hoberman, VILLAGE VOICE

“Chekhov never offered a more tempting sample of SEXUAL RIPENESS, and Fiona Glascott,a young Irish Actress, bites into the role with conviction.” --Anthony Lane, THE NEW YORKER

“VISUALLY GORGEOUS! Fulfills our hunger for SPLENDOR in a period film.” –Stanley Kauffmann, THE NEW REPUBLIC

“PERFORMANCES ARE EXCELLENT ALL AROUND, with Andrew Scott MESMERIZING, and the gorgeous Fiona Glascott making vividly clear why HER CHARACTER DRIVES ALL MEN TO DISTRACTION. –Frank Scheck, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER