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Dr. Zhivago Review

Dr. Zhivago

Year: 1965

Director:  David Lean

Main Actors:  Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, and Geraldine Chaplin

The movie Dr. Zhivago traces the life of Yuri Zhivago, who was both a physician and a poet, through the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War.  The beginning of the movie shows a time before the Revolution took place. Life was hard then; there was a distinct line between the rich and the poor.  People were marching for bread, while others were eating meals and dancing.  

 During this period Zhivago lives through the horrors of World War I and the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War.  The February Revolution occurred and the Tsar was overthrown by the people.  This, however, does not mean that everything was fixed and life got better, which people thought would occur.  The Revolution started, as many do, with the promise of a better life for all of the people.  This did not work out.  Before the revolution Pasha was a kind and high minded student who wanted a better life for all people.  He was shocked when the government killed women and children a march for bread; however that kindness would soon disappear.  Pasha, who was declared missing in action during WWI, was captured by the Austro-Hungarian Army, but escaped the POW.  He joined the new Red Army and quickly became a feared general. He was known for killing whites and civilians.   His ideals of being part of a better kinder government dissolved as he obtained a position of power and took advantage of the situation. He burned villages that he believed to be against the revolution and even when he burned the wrong village he did not care.    His story is an example of how the new government was no better than the old.  In the end, he falls from the new party’s good graces and is hunted, captured and commits suicide.

Another example of how the new government is not effective is the use of space. In theory, all things should be shared and all people are equal.  That means if you have a big house, you should be sharing it with many other people.  All people should be able to have food and shelter.  Instead this ideal just created havoc and in some cases large houses were shut down.  When the Zhivago family fled the city and went to Varykino they found that their home had been bored up by the government and it was against the revolution to live there, so they are forced to stay in the tiny guest or servant’s house next door.  In practicality, this did not make any sense and showed the useless rules of the new regime.  The house was left to decay there.  It was not useful to anyone, but since it was too large for one family none would have it.

A final example of the new government is when Zhivago was forced into service.  One day he was walking home after he broke off his affair with Lara (by this time they accepted their feelings for one another and had an affair since they were only one town apart) and he was captured and held hostage by the Communist partisan under the command of Liberius and was forced to do years of service as a doctor.  He was beaten down by life and extremely lonely at this point.    He finally decides to desert because he could not take living in the harsh conditions, both physically and mentally any longer, so he went back to Varykino and found that his wife and child have moved on; the only person left is Lara. 

 Another major theme of the movie was the idea of human loneliness.  Loneliness transcends culture and government.  Zhivago loses everything at some point.  He loved his wife, but longed for the true passion he found with Lara.  He decided to call off his affair and be with his wife only to lose them after years of conscripted army service. Therefore he decided to stay with Lara.   At the end of the movie, he knew that CHEKA was watching them because of Lara’s marriage to Pasha and Yuri’s desertion and poetry and they are told to flee, but they decided not to. Instead they moved, but stayed in the same area.  A few months later they are told that they must leave or they would be killed.   Zhivago knew that she would never leave on her own, so he agreed to go with her. At last minute, there was no room in the carriage and he stayed behind.   He lost her to save her and while it was the right thing to do, it hurt.  After Lara left, Zhivago began to write his “Lara” poems, which he became famous for.  Thus, loneliness is a major aspect of the movie because Zhivago and all the character experience it and have to overcome it to survive.

Finally, there is this theme of artistic talent.  Zhivago was an excellent writer.  His mother was able to play Balalaika very well.  After her death Zhivago carried around the Balalaika for the rest of his life and Lara took it when she left.  At the end of the movie, a woman, who is presumed to be Lara and Zhivago’s daughter, was seen carrying around a Balalaika and can play it very well. It is then known that she really is Zhivago’s and Lara’s daughter, because talent can be traced.

Quotes from Dr. Zhivago

Pasha: "I used to admire your poetry."

 Zhivago: "Thank you."

 Pasha: "I shouldn't admire it now. I should find it absurdly personal. Don't you agree? Feelings, insights, affections... it's suddenly trivial now. You don't agree; you're wrong. The personal life is dead in Russia. History has killed it. I can see why you might hate me."

 Zhivago: "I hate everything you say, but not enough to kill you for it." (IMDb)

“Happy men don’t volunteer.”

Pasha: "They rode them down, Lara. Women and children, begging for bread. There will be no more 'peaceful' demonstrations." (IMDB)