The Last Station

An adaptation of Tolstoy's biography, this film is at its core an exploration of love. Set during Tolstoy's last mission in life to promote educational reform, the film sadly seems to fall short in providing any depth and insight into his great work. However, the film's strength lies in the story of his relationship with his wife; a love story that is often overlooked in history. Their love is complicated and testing, and it is Tolstoy's dedication to his work that drives the story of their relationship.

Helen Mirren steals this film with her spellbinding performance. Her performance is powerful and her character is raw and vulnerable, giving us a very honest insight into the person that was Tolstoy's wife Sophia. Every second that she is on the screen you're absorbed. She is violent, mad, jealous, passionate. A simply amazing performance and makes this film worth the watch.

In the end I believe this film was in fact intended to be a journey of love and not an account of Tolstoy's work alone, just as the filmmakers have chosen to open the film with his famous quote from War and Peace: "Everything that I know, I know only because I love...".

Wonderful performances and a wonderful love story full of tears and laughter. A must see.