The Theme (1979): Cast & Plot
The Theme is a 1979 drama directed by Gleb Panfilov, starring Mikhail Ulyanov as Kim Yesenin, Inna Churikova and Natalya Seleznyova. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Gleb Panfilov
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Russian - Studio
- Mosfilm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Theme About?
The premise of The Theme without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A biting Russian comedy follows metropolitan writer Kim Yesenin, who heads to the provinces for fresh inspiration. He finds a lifestyle starkly different from his city world and accidentally observes a love triangle between the intellectual Sasha and dissident Andrei, who plans to leave for America. Shocked by the absurd, melancholy‑free drama, Kim decides to return to Moscow.
The Theme Themes & Keywords
· 33 tags- provincial russia
- vladimir city
- russian history
- writer
- playwright
- soviet union
- anti semitism
- controversy
- visitor
- spoken inner thoughts
- short story writer
- russian countryside
+21 more Show fewer
- rock musician
- rock 'n' roll
- quitting school
- policeman
- poet
- phone booth
- overhearing a conversation
- musician
- moscow russia
- midlife crisis
- marital separation
- male female relationship
- interior monologue
- husband wife relationship
- friend
- fifty something
- father son relationship
- fainting
- eavesdropping
- car skidding off a road
- car accident
The Theme Cast & Characters
Mikhail Ulyanov leads the cast as Kim Yesenin, with Inna Churikova as Sasha Nikolayeva and Natalya Seleznyova as Svetlana. Directed by Gleb Panfilov; 7 actors are credited in all.
- Director Gleb Panfilov
- Mikhail Ulyanov as Kim Yesenin
- Inna Churikova as Sasha Nikolayeva
- Natalya Seleznyova as Svetlana
- Yevgeni Vesnik as Pashchin
Also Starring in The Theme
· 3 more- Yevgeniya Nechayeva Mariya Aleksandrovna
- Sergey Nikonenko Sinitsyn
- Stanislav Lyubshin 'Bearded'
The Theme Plot Summary
What happens in The Theme from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Popular playwright Kim Yesenin arrives in Suzdal on his Volga, searching for historical themes for his next play, while wrestling with his own biases and a deep spiritual crisis, accompanied by his mistress Natalya Seleznyova and his friend Yevgeni Vesnik. In this quiet town, he crosses paths with the family of the venerable old teacher Mariya Aleksandrovna, who embodies traditional notions of morality and honor that feel distant to his modern sensibilities. As he stalks the idea of inspiration, Kim attempts to win over the art historian and local museum guide Sasha, a pupil of Alexandrovna, yet she bluntly assesses his work as mediocre and immoral, challenging him to see the difference between art and vanity.
Full summary
The whole story of The Theme, scene by scene
The Theme Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Le Thème” and “Téma”.
- Also known as
-
- Le Thème
- Téma
- Temat
- Das Thema
- Teema
- Tema
- 主题
Seen The Theme?
Movies Like The Theme
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Russian Question, Back to the USSR and The Seagull.
The Theme FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Theme, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Theme?
The Theme runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was The Theme released?
The Theme was released on January 9, 1979.
Who directed The Theme?
The Theme was directed by Gleb Panfilov.
More films by Gleb Panfilov Who is in the cast of The Theme?
The Theme stars Mikhail Ulyanov as Kim Yesenin, Inna Churikova as Sasha Nikolayeva and Natalya Seleznyova as Svetlana, among 7 credited actors.
Does The Theme have a post-credit scene?
No. The Theme has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Theme in?
The original language of The Theme is Russian.
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