"Tchaikovsky's Wife Review: A Tale of Obsession and Discord in an Unconventional Marriage"
In "Tchaikovsky's Wife," writer-director Kirill Serebrennikov delves into the tumultuous relationship between composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and his estranged wife Antonina Miliukova. Alyona Mikhailova delivers a tremendous performance as Antonina, a character portrayed as naive, narcissistic, and fanatical. Serebrennikov's film explores the complexities of their marriage, tainted by Antonina's obsessions and Tchaikovsky's homosexuality.
The film's direction mirrors the emotional intensity of its subjects, evoking a sense of hysteria and tension reminiscent of Antonina and Tchaikovsky themselves. However, it ventures into the realm of the bizarre as it portrays Antonina's reputation for sexual obsessiveness through balletic fantasy sequences with numerous naked men. Yet, the film raises questions about the validity of this reputation, suggesting that it may have been fabricated by malicious individuals connected to Tchaikovsky.
Alyona Mikhailova's portrayal of Antonina is remarkable, capturing the essence of an unhappy young woman from a troubled background who becomes infatuated with Tchaikovsky. Her unwavering devotion resembles that of a religious zealot, and throughout the film, she retains a childlike innocence. Odin Biron plays Tchaikovsky as a conceited man initially taken aback by Antonina's bold proposal of marriage but eventually motivated by financial considerations and the desire to silence the rumors surrounding his sexuality.
The film effectively conveys Antonina's inability to comprehend the truth about her husband's homosexuality. She stubbornly refuses to accept the reality that could lead to divorce, clinging to her imagined destiny as Tchaikovsky's wife. Her pursuit of him becomes increasingly desperate and reminiscent of Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction."
One of the film's strengths is its depiction of Antonina's profound loneliness. She remains physically distant from Tchaikovsky for much of the narrative, yet emotionally tethered to someone who despises her. A poignant fantasy scene at the beginning highlights her isolation as Tchaikovsky rises from the dead to reprimand those who allowed her to view his corpse. Antonina's emotional life is confined to a joyless affair with her lawyer, resigning herself to a marginal existence on the fringes of Tchaikovsky's fame, the very role she had once imagined protecting him from.
"Tchaikovsky's Wife" is a vehement and engrossing drama, surpassing Serebrennikov's previous work in its ability to captivate. While it may have a narrow emotional and tonal range, this very limitation contributes to its impact, effectively conveying the tumultuous nature of the unconventional marriage between Antonina and Tchaikovsky.
Tchaikovsky’s Wife (2022) - info
- Release date: February 15, 2022
- Genre: Drama, Biography
- Director: Kirill Serebrennikov
- Writer: Kirill Serebrennikov
- Stars: Alyona Mikhailova, Odin Lund Biron, Filipp Avdeev