Turning (Russian: Превращение, romanizedPrevrashchenie) is a 2002 Russian drama film directed by Valery Fokin. The film is an adaptation of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.[1][2][3]

Turning
Russian: Превращение
Directed byValery Fokin
Written by
Produced by
  • Leonid Bits
  • Oleg Lerner
  • Igor Pogrebinsky
Starring
CinematographyIgor Klebanov
Edited byLidiya Volokhova
Music byAleksandr Bakshi
Production
company
Release date
  • 17 October 2002 (2002-10-17)
Running time
80 min.
CountryRussia
LanguageRussian

The film tells about an exemplary family man who had a nightmare, after which he turned into a disgusting insect.

Plot

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Set in early 20th-century Prague, the film follows Gregor Samsa, who has been supporting his family and paying off his father's debts for years. One morning, Gregor wakes to find himself transformed into a large, grotesque insect with a hard shell and twitching legs. His transformation horrifies his parents and sister, as he is no longer able to work and financially support them. Revolted by his appearance, his family, focused only on material concerns, grows increasingly disdainful of him. They isolate Gregor in his room, which gradually becomes a storage space for unwanted items. Treated like an animal, Gregor still thinks, feels, and understands as before, retaining his humanity more fully than the family members who reject him. As Gregor’s isolation deepens, the family’s spiritual decay becomes apparent, with their narrow, materialistic values eclipsing any compassion.[4]

Cast

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Critical response

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According to film critic Lidiya Maslova, "the main miscalculation is the choice of Yevgeny Mironov for the main role. Mironov does not condescend to transform himself. He remains not so much a man, but a movie star who crawls on the floor on his stomach and sometimes arrogantly wiggles his fingers and toes".[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Дела шутейные. Спектакль «Шутники» театра «Сатирикон»". rewizor.ru.
  2. ^ "В Музее им. Бахрушина открылась фотовыставка мастеров театральной сцены". mk.ru.
  3. ^ В Минкультуры РФ одобрили субсидирование десяти российских фильмов (in Russian)
  4. ^ "Превращение (2002)". kinopoisk.ru (in Russian).
  5. ^ "(Ре)презентация «Превращения»: Фокин, Кафка, Магритт и проблема кинематографической адаптации". kinozapiski.ru (in Russian).
  6. ^ Turning (2002) Full Cast / Crew
  7. ^ "Рождённый ползать". kommersant.ru (in Russian).
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