User reviews

I have read this epic novel, awarded by Nobel prize, and watched it put to screen by different regimes. I think so far this is the best adaptation. It mixes extremely well the private life melodrama and horrors of civil war in the Cossak area of the Don river in the period of 1910-1920. At first you are involved in petty melodrama of love lines of the Melekhov Cossak family, but as episodes pile on, you can't take your eyes away from the enveloping drama. I am not of the crying type, and I have been crying aloud during the last several eps. All praise to Sergey Ursuljak, the famous Russian director and to some leading actors, whom at first I thought were not capable to play this drama. Just watch and feel the anvil of history pressing on these men and women and appreciate the Russian tv series that are qualitative and keeping close to the original of the great book.

Beautiful young people, handsome horses, the glow of summer, the pallor of winter...all superbly photographed, and yet - it feels thin...padded. It is only fair to say that this is 'inspired by' the original, not the original. ....something is missing:

More than a century has elapsed since the events depicted, and therewith has vanished something of what imbues the book - and previous versions - with pathos: characters swept up in the whirlwind of history, ground down by the vicissitudes of revolution, yet they remain true to their kind and to each other.

I think the movie was better than its predecessor (1958). Knowing firsthand the life, manners, customs and everyday life of the don Cossacks, as well as places described in the novel, I can say that: - beautifully filmed nature: the bend of the don, a wheat field - a big plus that the role of the major heroes is taken not the most well-known actors. Gregory - very good for only a reprimand gives little Odessa accent, Aksiniya - superbly played a role, Natalia is also in place, but what about the father Melehov - Makovetsky - super. Old actors famous for their roles, but play 18-20 year old people when they are already 42 (Gregory), 29 (Aksinia), and the age - effect, these roles for young about expressed opinions about the dialect - all matches, I think the consultants were local, just a few words - not from the lexicon of the Cossacks, the rest is all consistent, and the songs - will listen with delight - military scenes - fall short, the consultant apparently was not, or consultant - so-so: don't run to attack the Cossacks heap so much so that a single bullet can put ten - trick riding - on the level of, Tkachuk looks very well on horseback, and in some scenes, just as "like a Cossack".

In my opinion, the film will be better than the first. Thank you Ursulyak and the actors!

Director Sergei Ursuliak brought a the most astounding piece of art for humanity to cherish. I would not dare to watch a TV show that too in Russian. But I thought let's give it a try. And I just finished it unstoppable. With teary eyes and heart full of emotions. It is a brilliant adaptation of a great Novel by author Mikhail Sholokhov . The brilliant performances of the characters by all actors are unmatchable to anything. Dog and horses too played an important part of the whole story. Acting by Polina Chernyshova for the character named Aksiniya and Evgeniy Tkachuk for Grigori were my favorite. Every single frame has a depth of an artist. The cinematography is just wonderful. All the beautiful shots of river Don fills the screen. The Russian yellow landscape of summers with fields full of wheat grass takes you to some fairyland. Rainy seasons just brings the greenery to every shot. With the people cutting the grass with Scythe. Cutting the grass is great symbol in the series. The last scene tells whole perspective of the humanity, that we are here to love, to feed. The winter shots of Russian landscape are just amazing. The mountains, the trees, the river Don, lots of horses, and many humans with their perspective of their of life and political ideologies are just wonderfully captured in this TV series. Talking about the characters, series starts with River Don, this is the first and last character of the whole series. Its hard to find all actors name. Some of the memorable performances of characters are Aksinyas, and her husband Stephan, Grigori's father by Sergei Makovetsky ( he is just fun to watch, talking to himself) and Grigori's brother. Performance by Grigori's sister in law was just mesmerizing. She showed a total breakdown after the loss husband. And a ultimate painful suicide in River Don, the scene was just so painful even more painful than Grigori's loss of Aksiniya. Actress who play Grigori's mother was more visible in the last of the episodes. She became a real authority of the house after husband gone. Grigory's sister was brilliantly performed. Last character in my mind is Grigori's wife performed by Darya Ursulyak. This character was very deep. But didn't show much emotions. Darya performed it profoundly and beautifully. Conclusion: The overall that audience carry in their heart is tons of emotions, amazing landscape of Russia and The River Don. Thanks