Agony: The Life and Death of Rasputin (DVD)
Directed by Elem Klimov
Also Available On:
Vudu Booking InquiryUnder the direction of celebrated filmmaker Elem Klimov (Come and See), Aleksei Petrenko delivers a ferociously over-the-top performance as Grigory Rasputin, the wandering Siberian monk whose messianic influence upon Russia's monarch led its people, like lambs to the slaughter, blind and headlong into World War I, setting the stage for revolution.
Anything but a standard bio-pic, Agony is an unrestrained assault on the ruling class in Russia, whose religious hedonism and political ignorance nearly destroyed the country. Influenced in part by such latter 20th Century phenomena as Charles Manson and The Exorcist, Klimov restages world history with jolting doses of sexual avarice, drunkenness, violence and insanity in startling contrast to staid historical accounts of Rasputin's life and most peculiar death.
At the same time that it was criticized for its harsh depiction of royal decadence, Agony was deemed politically blasphemous for its almost sympathetic treatment of Nicholas II (Anatoli Romashin) -- a pathetic, weak-willed Czar who is dominated not only by the mad monk, but by his own wife and child. As a result, Agony, which was made in 1975, was banned for ten years in its native land until, in the era of Glasnost, Klimov's radical political fable was properly recognized and triumphantly set loose upon the screens of the world.
DVD Extras Include:
- Klimov - A film by Ron and Dorothea Holloway (50 min., w/English subt.)
- Trailer for Klimov's Come and See
- Elem Klimov filmography
- Optional English subtitles
"Mesmerizing...highly sensual! Shares an intoxicating headiness with the surreal works of Andrei Tarkovsky." - Kevin Thomas, The Los Angeles Times
"Establishes the outer limits of Soviet Expressionism...Better than entertaining!" - J. Hoberman, The Village Voice
Interested in bringing Agony: The Life and Death of Rasputin to your school or library? If you'd like to have an in-class viewing, on-campus screening, or purchase the DVD for your library's collection, please contact Estelle Grosso or call (212) 629-6880 with your request.
Agony: The Life and Death of Rasputin may also be available with Public Performance Rights (PPR) and Digital Site Licensing (DSL) for colleges and universities. To purchase the DVD with PPR or DSL, please contact Estelle Grosso or call (212) 629-6880. Click here to learn more at Kino Lorber Edu.
To read more about Kino Lorber Edu's terms of use and ordering information,
visit Kino Lorber Edu.
Related Products
Country: France
In CAMILLE CLAUDEL 1915, Juliette Binoche gives a mesmerizing performance as Auguste Rodin's protégé (and later mistress), and sister of the Christian/mystic poet Paul Claudel. Inspired... More
Country: France, Russia
Steely, elegant Georges (Andrei Panin) leads a DIY underground death squad carrying out fanatical attacks on Russia's fragile Czarist regime. Visit product page to see trailer! More
Country: France, Russia, Russia
Unlike the Hollywood biographies of the great composer's life, director Igor Talankin avoids the sentimentality and cliche creating a distinctive clarity and freshness of perspective. Emphasis is... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina
The extraordinary story of the iconic poet, musician and folksinger Violeta Parra, whose songs have become hymns for Chileans and Latin Americans alike. Director Andres Wood (Machuca) traces the... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S.
After his triumphs in the Civil War, General Custer (Robert Shaw) becomes one of the most renowned military figures of his time. But he infuriates as many people as he impresses... never more so than... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S.
After his triumphs in the Civil War, General Custer (Robert Shaw) becomes one of the most renowned military figures of his time. But he infuriates as many people as he impresses... never more so than... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S.
The Griffith Masterworks box set contains seven DVDs (see below) which are also sold separately. Total time: approx. 986 mins. (16+ hours) B&W, Color-tinted. various musical accompaniment. For... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S.
Two delicate souls (Lillian and Dorothy Gish) are caught in the tempest of the French Revolution. More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.K., India, Germany
A lavish silent super-production comprising 10,000 extras, a thousand horses, and scores of elephants, A Throw of Dice is the climax of German film pioneer Franz Osten's richly cinematic sojourn in... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.K., India, Germany, U.S.
An astounding rediscovery of the cinema, Richard III is the earliest surviving American feature film, newly unearthed and restored to its original brilliance by The American Film Institute with a... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.K., India, Germany, U.S., U.S.
Three sons struggle to win their father's favor, as well as his crown. King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his queen, Eleanor (Katherine Hepburn), engage in a battle of royal wits that pits elder son... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.K., India, Germany, U.S., U.S., U.K.
A colorful, early ’70s rendition of life in the taverns, brothels, and surgical theatres of 1820s Scotland, blending dark comedy with bawdy eroticism, seasoning it with the grotesque, then... More
Country: France, Russia, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, U.S., U.S., U.S., U.S., U.K., India, Germany, U.S., U.S., U.K., U.K.
A colorful, early ’70s rendition of life in the taverns, brothels, and surgical theatres of 1820s Scotland, blending dark comedy with bawdy eroticism, seasoning it with the grotesque, then... More
@mant509 Check Spam folder. If it's not there either, please fill out this form so we can better assist you:' https://t.co/qaGZubzM3l'
RT' @Journeys_Film': My Mad About Musicals series continues with a look at Those Redheads From Seattle (1953) ' https://t.co/EtjKx2ZvTC' #TCMP…
RT' @chrisvognar': No one captured the psychology of guilt and paranoia like Fritz Lang. 'The Woman in the Window' is now on Blu-ray from' @K…'
RT' @ArenaCinelounge': ONLY TWO SCREENINGS LEFT! See the fascinating #Kubrick documentary #Filmworker from director' @tony_zierra' and' @KinoLor…'
CUSTODY won Xavier Legrand the Venice Silver Lion for Best Director and a spot on' @Variety's' list of Top 10 Directo…' https://t.co/Z8nDYsPLsx'
THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA screened last night at the' @Castro_Theatre' as part of' @framelinefest'. We're filled with #pride…' https://t.co/JPHaWE2l8x'
FISTFUL OF DOLLARS is a' @dvdtalk' Collector Series title: "I was... delighted to see the film overall never looking…' https://t.co/ctCgScxamN'
📀' @Glenn__Kenny' includes a bunch of Kino Lorber titles — A Fistful of Dollars, The Holy Mountain, Manhandled, Stage…' https://t.co/eji3Hx6das'
RT' @Slant_Magazine': An inconsistent but nonetheless beautiful restoration makes for the best-looking home-video release yet of Alfred Hitch…
RT' @aj_macready': Getting back to it: I have literally lost count of how many times I've watched this since I got this beautiful release fro…
General Inquiries
333 W. 39th St., Ste. 503
New York, NY 10018
Tel. (800) 562-3330
Fax. (212) 714-0871
Press & Media
For publicity assistance and press inquiries please contact us by emailing rodrigo@kinolorber.com or calling 212-629-6880.
Educational
Please visit our educational site at www.KinoLorberEDU.com
For assistance with educational orders, please contact us at:
Phone:212-629-6880
Fax: 212-714-0871
email: edu@kinolorber.com
