The Last Station (Michael Hoffman, 2009): Germany

Reviewed by William Conlin. Viewed on DVD.

In the first decade of the 20th Century, the people of Russia viewed author Leo Tolstoy as a national treasure, some going so far as to say he is a living saint. In Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station, we are given a look into the last year of Tolstoy’s life and how the author struggled with the future of his family and literary works while deciding how to live out his final days.

Russia, 1910. Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy), a devoted member of the “Tolstoyan Movement” is sent to the iconic author’s estate to be his new secretary. His appointment to this position comes from the movement’s leader Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), who is deeply interested in having Tolstoy sign a will placing his works in the public domain. Chertkov orders Bulgakov to be his spy (as Chertov is under house arrest). Once Bulgakov arrive at the estate he is immediately thrown into the middle of the Tolstoy family’s “palace intrigue”. Leo (Christopher Plummer) is at constant odd with his wife Sophia (Helen Mirren) while everyone around them either idolized the author or scrambles for the next scandalous scoop for the newspapers at the hands of Sophia. Bulgakov is soon asked to spy for Sophia as well, placing him in the middle of the argument. While the two sides grumble over money it becomes clearer to Tolstoy that he is dying and he must decide whether or not to carry out on his final wish; abandoning all he has to become a wonderer.

Without a doubt, the most stunning aspect of this film is the incredible acting from Plummer and Mirren. Both were nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globe and SAG Awards this past year and although neither won any of them, I feel like they were given their dues for these magnificent performances. Giamatti, McAvoy, Anne-Maria Duff (McAvoy’s real life wife who portrays Tolstoy’s daughter) and Kerry Condon (as Bulgakov’s lover) perform their intensely dramatic roles with such flair that during the tensest of arguments I found myself holding my breath like this was an action film.

Director and screenwriter Michael Hoffman delivers an exquisitely well-made film for its modest budget of $17 million while cinematographer Sebastian Edschmid subtly pleases the viewer’s eye. Additionally, Sergey Yevtushenko’s score provides a wonderful period feel for the film.

On the philosophical meaning of the film, I found it tragic that Tolstoy seeks a life free of possession and money but everywhere he turns, is pursued by those wishing him to sign over (or sign away) his copyrights. The Last Station is a very deep film which causes us to look at what things really mean when we comes to the end of our lives and though one may feel somewhat emotionally drained after viewing it, I still think it is worth the time and energy.