Omar Sharif stars in the title role of Doctor Zhivago, portraying the surgeon-poet over a half-century period. Zhivago, who is married to Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), an aristocratic girl with whom he raises a family, is also in love with Lara (Julie Christie), a nurse whose life has been destroyed by tragedy. Repeatedly brought together and separated from each woman by war and revolution, Zhivago is torn apart by conflict. He loves Tonya deeply but his poetic soul belongs to Lara. Much like his beloved country, Zhivago's spirit becomes battered by the devastation of war as he struggles to maintain his individualism in the face of overwhelming odds.
I love that film. I wanted to keep a cope as a collection. If you watch this in widescreen format, it really does the battle scene great justice; coupled with surround sound, you'll be gripped by the amazing cinematography. I would recommend the director's cut that includes scenes about the relationship between the lead character and his estranged wife and helps you to understand the motivation behind his decision. The run time is 183 minutes for the directors cut and 120 minutes for the cinema version. I was, however, disappointed by the lack of extras, which any fan of this classic would expect to be included. There's only a 20-minute interview with the director and other shot "making-of" vignettes.
A little reading of the political history of Russia about 1916 will help greatly to understand the breadth of this magnificent story. It goes without saying that the range of actors in the film are brilliant and make the story fully credible. The director, David Leaning, has done an incredible piece of work. This is amazing when you learn that for most of the time he and Alec Guiness were at loggerheads on how the roles should be played. So now, sit back and enjoy the experiences of religion, panoramic vistas, high drama, war, passion, human endeavour,tender love scenes and unforgetable theme music. If you are not humming it at the end, check to see if you are still alive!
David Lean demonstrates again why he's a peerless filmaker of substance and scale, directing Boris Pasternak's tumultuous tale of Russia divided by war and hearts torn by love.
Epic images abound: revolution in the streets, an infantry charge into No Man's Land, the train ride to the Urals, an icebound dacha.
Golden Globe Best Actor Award winner Omar Sharif plays the title role, in love with Lara (Julie Christie) and caught up in the tidal wave of history.
Hauntingly scored ny Maurice Jarre and full of indelible performances, Doctor Zhivago is a moviemaking wonder.