Onegin (film)

For the novel of Alexander Pushkin which served as the basis for the film, see Eugene Onegin.

Onegin
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Martha Fiennes
Produced by	Simon Bosanquet Ileen Maisel Ralph Fiennes
Written by	Peter Ettedgui Michael Ignatieff
Based on	Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
Starring	Ralph Fiennes Liv Tyler Irene Worth Toby Stephens
Music by	Magnus Fiennes
Cinematography	Remi Adefarasin
Editing by	Jim Clark
Studio	Rysher Entertainment Starz! CanWest Global Television Network
Distributed by	Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release date(s)	September 18, 1999 (1999-09-18) (TIFF) November 19, 1999 (1999-11-19) (United Kingdom) December 31, 1999 (1999-12-31) (United States)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	United Kingdom United States
Language	English French
Budget	₤8.7 million ($14 million)
Box office	$206,128

Onegin is a 1999 British-American romantic drama film based on Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse Eugene Onegin, co-produced by British and American companies and shot mostly in the United Kingdom. Onegin is Martha Fiennes' directorial debut and stars her brother Ralph Fiennes in the role of Yevgeni (Eugene) Onegin, Liv Tyler as Tatiana, Irene Worth as Princess Alina and Toby Stephens as Lensky. Two other Fiennes siblings were involved in the project: Magnus Fiennes wrote the music and Sophie Fiennes appeared in a minor role.

Plot

The film compresses the events of the novel somewhat; for example, the Naming Day celebrations take place on the same day as Onegin's speech to Tatyana. As a result, Onegin's reasons for dancing with Olga and insulting Lensky are left somewhat confusing. Much like the 1988 film version, Onegin gives the impression that, during the duel sequence, Onegin shoots to kill.

Cast

• Ralph Fiennes as Yevgeni "Eugene" Onegin
• Liv Tyler as Tatyana
• Irene Worth as Princess Alina
• Toby Stephens as Lensky
• Martin Donovan as Prince Nikitin
• Lena Headey as Olga
• Alun Armstrong as Zaretsky
• Simon McBurney as Triquet
• Harriet Walter as Madame Larina
• Elizabeth Berrington as Mlle Volkonsky

Reception

Onegin received mixed reviews; it currently holds a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Awards

Martha Fiennes received the Best Director Award at the Tokyo Film Festival and the London Film Critics Circle's award for Best Newcomer. Onegin was also nominated for Best British Film at the British Academy Film Awards and Liv Tyler received the Golden Aries prize for Best Foreign Actress from the Russian Guild of Film Critics.

External links

• Onegin at the Internet Movie Database
• Onegin at AllRovi
• Onegin at Box Office Mojo
• Onegin at Rotten Tomatoes
• Onegin at Metacritic