Film Review: THE LAST STATION (15), Rating: lll

Feb 19 2010 Liverpool Daily Post

Helen Mirren

IT’S EASY to appreciate creative genius, but it must be hell to live with.

Based on the novel by Jan Parini, The Last Station is a love story set during the final year of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy’s life, focusing on the terrible strain borne by his wife, the Countess.

Unable to live together without descending into spiteful bickering, yet unwilling to live apart because of their deep love, the elderly couple plays out their final months.

In truth, were it not for Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren’s Oscar nominations as Best Actor and Best Actress, Michael Hoffman’s history lesson could have bypassed the big screen and debuted on DVD.

This is a handsome, Sunday afternoon costume drama which includes Grainy, black and white footage of the real Tolstoy and Countess, and the public outpouring of love and grief at Astapovo, give us pause for reflection over the end credits.