"The Last Station" brings Tolstoy and his struggles back to life

Novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy are classics and masterpieces of our time. These books uphold the values and beliefs of Tolstoy and serve as guidebooks to the believers of the author. In fact, Tolstoy had numerous followers and believers in his theories and values and was at times referred to as a prophet. These theories and values are presented in the movie The Last Station, which turned out to be as magnificent and phenomenal as his works.

The Last Station is a Sony Classics production that is set to come out in December for a short run in the United States. It is written and directed by Michael Hoffman who was previously responsible for the movie A Midsummer's Night Dream. The music produces an enormous impact on the viewer, was composed by Sergey Yevtushenko. According to the press release from Sony Classics, "The Last Station recounts the drama of the final year in the life of the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy.

It is a true story, both dramatic and humorous, that covers the themes of passion, love, family, greed, intrigue, conflict and revolution." The movie really does much more than tell a true story. It brings us closer to the characters because of all the feelings, moments and scenes portrayed on screen are things the audience members can relate to.

The movie begins with Valentin Bulgakov, played by James McAvoy of Wanted and Atonement, interviewing with Chertkov (Paul Giamatti). Chertkov is a friend and a manager in some sense of Tolstoy. He is responsible for looking over Telyatin, a forest location where followers of Tolstoy live. Also, Chertkov is responsible for the work of Tolstoy and what is to happen after he dies.

Bulgakov is a foil for Chertkov in that they share opposite beliefs and bring those beliefs out of each other as the movie progresses. As Bulgakov is hired to be Tolstoy's secretary, he is told to write down everything that happens by Chertkov.

A young, enthusiastic, celibate and at times very nervous, Bulgakov is sent to live at Telyatin from where he will travel to Tolstoy's estate. But for Bulgakov, Telyatin becomes a revelation for him as he meets Masha (Kerry Condon), who does not agree with all of Tolstoy's beliefs and changes Bulgakov's belief on celibacy. Telyatin is a home for very strong believers of Tolstoy.

As the movie progresses, the story of two young lovers unfolds between Masha and Bulgakov. It is also vital to look at the two main characters of the story – Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) and Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren). The love and struggle that is portrayed by the two serves as a basis for the relationship of Bulgakov and Masha and gives them more reason for their decision of their future.

Sofya believes that the only one who understands his writing and understands him for who he is. Although the beliefs of Tolstoy might have changed somewhat over time, his love for Sofya did not. With the return of Chertkov however, the daily activity of Tolstoy, Sofya is not at all pleased. Everyone seems to see her husband as Christ like, rather than just a man whom she loves.

During his time as a secretary for Tolstoy, Bulgakov in a way begins a new life for himself. Seeing the works of Tosltoy first hand, Bulgakov gasps for air. And when Tolstoy, first seeing Bulgakov gives him a hug enthusiastically, Bulgakov sneezes as he does many times when he is nervous. Bulgakov also witnesses and is sometimes caught in between the relationship of Tolstoy and Sofya.

Sofya is against Chertkov because he wants to strip Sofya and her thirteen children of the right to Tolstoy's work and give it to the people by rewriting the will. Sofya tries to fight that as much as possible and tries to recruit Bulgakov to her side. Sofya thinks that Chertkov created "religion and revolution" and wants to fight his presence in Tolstoy's life.

The marriage of Sofya and Tolstoy is difficult but they love each other and understand that they cannot satisfy each other on all levels. The story told in The Last Station is not just about a marriage or a relationship, but of true devotion and love, of friendship and understanding.

What hurts Sofya the most is that she is no longer as important as she was and cannot understand Tolstoy any longer. Love indeed has no boundaries, which explains the ending: that nothing can stop a husband and wife to meet at the last station.