War and Peace

If you are lazy like me and don't see even a remote chance of reading this thousand and something pages novel but in the meantime want to know the literature of Russia go for the movie!
In general with all due respect to Tolstoy, I generally do not like his way of getting too much into the detail to the point that 50 pages pass by and you feel that you are still reading the description of ONE room...!

This is a wonderfully procduced movie with seeing, particularly if you are intersted in Russian history

This is one of the best books ever written made into one the truly signature classic movies ever made! Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn & Mel Ferrer (who just passed away at the age of 90) make a stellar cast, and while its a long movie, its a movie I love to watch again & again!

This is a movie worth owning, I promise!!

A sprawling film from the even more sprawling Russian novel by Leo Tolstoy. It is the early 1800s, and Napoleon's army is moving from France into Russia and on to Moscow. Tolstoy depicts polite Russian society and how its world is ripped apart by Napoleon's ambition. Henry Fonda plays the bumbling, intellectual Pierre. Audrey Hepburn is the naive Natasha. Swede Anita Ekberg, dripping with sex, is Helene. As an astronomy buff, my favorite scene is Pierre observing the comet of 1812. Its tail was long and luminous. While many people in those days believed comets to be bad omens, Pierre sees its beauty and feels a kinship with it. To Pierre, the comet represents hope. Jean Louis Pons discovered the comet in July. It was visible through September.

War and Peace is without a doubt, a timeless classic. We chose to obtain this version to share it with Katya and Nadya, young adults who are now studying this period in history.

This Tolstoy's classic is wonderfully played by Audrey Hepburn as Natasha, a young woman who experiences the hardships of war. Henry Fonda provides a great performance as he lives through and observes Napoleon's invasion.

The Russian General, who retreats, and refuses to engage in battle, waiting for the winter to become his ally is superbly played and provided a chance to discuss strategy and books, such as the Art of War. The insight gained was excellent.

The battle scenes leave a sense of desolation, and as Napoleon retreats, we were able to discuss how Russia has benefited from a harsh winter as the defense against intruders.

Highly recommend watching this film.