The 1965 film Doctor Zhivago is a sweeping epic directed by David Lean, based on the novel by Boris Pasternak. It is set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Russian Civil War, spanning several decades in the early 20th century. The film is a poignant love story that intertwines the personal lives of its characters with the tumultuous events of history.
The story follows Yuri Zhivago (played by Omar Sharif), a gifted doctor and poet, who is caught in the chaos of the Russian Revolution. From his childhood in the Russian countryside, where he is orphaned and taken in by a wealthy family, to his adult life as a doctor in Moscow, Yuri’s path is shaped by love, war, and political upheaval.
Yuri falls in love with Lara Antipova (Julie Christie), a beautiful young woman who is married to a revolutionary, Pasha (Tom Courtenay). Lara and Yuri’s passionate affair begins under tragic circumstances, as they are both drawn into the horrors of World War I and the Russian Revolution. Throughout their lives, they experience the betrayals, heartbreaks, and sacrifices that are emblematic of their time.
The movie explores not only Yuri and Lara’s tumultuous relationship but also the impact of the revolution on the lives of those around them. Yuri’s wife, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), is also an important character, caught between her love for Yuri and her loyalty to her family.
As the film progresses, the characters’ fates are shaped by the social and political upheaval around them. Yuri and Lara are separated for long stretches of time, and despite their deep love for one another, the challenges of war, the shifting power dynamics of post-revolutionary Russia, and their personal sacrifices keep them apart.
The film ends on a bittersweet note, with a reflection on the enduring power of love, memory, and poetry even in the face of life’s most difficult and tragic moments.