Swan Song

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Movie
Original title Swan Song
Country of production Great Britain
original language English
Publishing year 1992
length 23 minutes
Rod
Director Kenneth Branagh
script Anton Chekhov
Hugh Cruttwell (arrangement)
production David Parfitt
music Jimmy Yuill
camera Roger Lanser
cut Andrew Marcus
occupation

Swan Song is a British short film that was made in 1992 under the direction of Kenneth Branagh . At the 1993 Academy Awards , he was nominated in the Best Short Film category. It is based on Anton Chekhov's one-act Swan Song . The location was the Criterion Theater in London .

action

The 88-year-old actor Svetlovidov was left behind by his companions in the now empty theater after an evening performance that brought him 16 curtains. On stage he ponders his life, which he has devoted to his art for more than 60 years, first in prestigious theaters, then in vaudeville venues with lousy skits. Suddenly Nikita, the prompter, appears. Nikita has no other shelter, so he secretly sleeps in the theater. The actor tells of the performance and the ensuing shame and realizes that he will soon die. The only thing that still gives him strength would be the alcohol. Nikita offers to take him home, but the actor says he doesn't actually have a home because everything that could make his two rooms a home in the run-down part of the city is missing. Nikita tries to cheer him up, but fails.

Svetlovidov tells of his past, of his wishes and dreams, which no longer have much to do with the present and which resulted in loneliness. The prompter fervently defends the theater and their lives against the contempt of the actor. He remembers how he once played King Lear and he begins to reclaim the second scene of the third act. Nikita takes on the role of the court jester. Out of breath, the actor has to sit down again. While Nikita wants to talk about the play, Svetlovidov wants to continue with something calmer, the second scene of the third act from Hamlet , with Nikita in the role of Güldenstern. The recitations and the subsequent compliments by Nikita lift the actor's mood. Now he wants to show Nikita his interpretation of Romeo at the moment when he thinks Juliet is dead, but he forgets the text. When he sees that Nikita is crying, he asks why. He replies that Svetlovidov obviously still believes in the theater's ability to be something important. The actor agrees and points out that it would be rare anymore, but you just have to keep trying, as Othello best put it. He begins to recite from the third scene of the third act. Then he invites Nikita to a bottle in his cloakroom.

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