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The Possessed (1988 film)

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The Possessed
French poster
Directed byAndrzej Wajda
Written byJean-Claude Carrière
Based onThe Possessed
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Produced byMargaret Ménégoz
StarringIsabelle Huppert
CinematographyWitold Adamek
Edited byHalina Prugar-Ketling
Music byZygmunt Konieczny
Distributed byGaumont Distribution
Release date
  • 24 February 1988 (1988-02-24)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Budget$575.000[1]

The Possessed (French: Les Possédés) is a 1988 French drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda and starring Isabelle Huppert.[2] It was entered into the 38th Berlin International Film Festival.[3]

Plot

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The story is set in 19th-century Russia, in a small provincial town plagued by political unrest and social upheaval. The town's inhabitants are divided into various factions, including radical intellectuals, aristocrats, government officials, and peasants, each with their own agendas and ideologies.

The central figure in the story is Nikolai Stavrogin, a mysterious and enigmatic aristocrat who returns to his hometown after an extended absence in Switzerland. Stavrogin's arrival sparks intrigue and controversy among the town's residents, as rumors circulate about his scandalous past and his involvement in a tragic incident years earlier.

Stavrogin's presence disrupts the lives of those around him, including the governor's wife, Varvara Stavrogina, and her stepson, Pyotr Verkhovensky, a charismatic and radical revolutionary. Verkhovensky is a fervent advocate for social change and seeks to incite a revolution against the existing order.

As tensions escalate within the community, fueled by Stavrogin's provocative actions and Verkhovensky's radical ideology, the characters find themselves drawn into a web of intrigue, manipulation, and moral corruption. Verkhovensky forms a secret society of radicals, recruiting disaffected youths and intellectuals to his cause.

Meanwhile, Stavrogin becomes entangled in a series of scandalous affairs and personal conflicts, including a tumultuous relationship with a young woman named Marya Lebyadkina, who becomes infatuated with him. Stavrogin's ambiguous motives and erratic behavior confound those around him, leading to speculation and suspicion about his true intentions.

As the tensions between the various factions reach a boiling point, the town erupts into violence and chaos. Verkhovensky's revolutionary ambitions spiral out of control, leading to betrayal, bloodshed, and ultimately tragedy for many of the characters involved.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Les Possédés (1988)- JPBox-Office". Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. ^ Dan Pavlides (2008). "NY Times: The Possessed". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Berlinale: 1988 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
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