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Any serious lover of literature has read War and Peace—or so I’ve been told. I guess I’m not really a serious lover of literature, then—because I’ve never even tried to tackle Tolstoy’s weighty epic masterpiece. Fortunately, though, you don’t need to have read take on Tolstoy’s literary works to appreciate the complexities—or the Oscar-worthy performances—in The Last Station.
By the time The Last Station opens, in 1910, author Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) has become both a celebrity and a kind of religious figure in Russia. Widely known for his teachings of love and pacifism and his rejection of personal property, Tolstoy even has a following of Tolstoyans who live in a commune nearby.
It’s clear that Tolstoy’s life is nearing its end. But, before he goes, his old friend, Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), is eager to get him to change his will—to bequeath the copyrights of his work to the Russian people instead of leaving them to his strong-willed wife, Sofya (Helen Mirren), and their children.
In order to monitor the climate at Tolstoy’s home while he’s under house arrest, Chertkov fills the estate with his own spies, who take notes on everything that’s said and done. His newest spy is Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy), a loyal follower who’s hired as Tolstoy’s personal secretary. But Valentin soon discovers that there’s more to Tolstoy, his beliefs, and especially his unruly countess than he once thought.
Though The Last Station offers just a glimpse of the end of Tolstoy’s life (as fictionalized in Jay Parini’s novel), it’s a mesmerizing glimpse nonetheless. The story is a complex mess of politics, religion, and family drama—an ongoing battle of wits between Chertkov (and his loyal Tolstoyans) and Sofya, with Tolstoy caught in the middle. But, as Tolstoy himself points out throughout the film, underneath it all is love—and that’s the real story of The Last Station.
Like another recent period drama, The Young Victoria, The Last Station touches on some of the historical details, but its main focus is elsewhere. While it offers a few enticing insights into Tolstoy’s fascinating world, the story centers on his 48-year marriage to Sofya—and the obstacles they face, especially as they get older. While she looks back lovingly on their younger days, when they worked side-by-side, as a team, he struggles with their increasingly conflicting beliefs—and what he feels is his duty. Yet, despite their differences (and their heated arguments), their love for one another never really fades. And as young, naïve Valentin befriends both Tolstoy and Sofya, his budding but hesitant romance with fellow Tolstoyan Masha (Kerry Condon) seems to mirror theirs.
Although Oscar-nominated Plummer gives a captivating performance as Tolstoy, Mirren (who also received an Oscar nod for her role) easily steals the film. She gives a wonderfully spirited performance as Tolstoy’s loving but outspoken wife. Dogged by reporters who gather outside the Tolstoy estate like paparazzi, eagerly snapping pictures of her latest outfit and taking notes on the outrageous things she says, the Countess is prone to spectacular mood swings. One minute, she’s shocked and outraged; the next, she’s loving and playful. It’s an artfully-written role—and Mirren navigates it with effortless expertise. Her performance is emotional and animated—and highly entertaining.
While The Last Station may not be the in-depth biopic that Tolstoy fans have been waiting for, it’s a beautiful—and passionate—film nonetheless. It probably won’t inspire you to tackle War and Peace once and for all, but the intricate love story and brilliant performances make The Last Station its own kind of masterpiece.
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