East-West

Russian political intrigue and soapy melodrama have mixed like oil and water in films and television programs for years.

More often than not, the uneasy blend of these two styles results in such duds as 1990's "The Russia House."

However, there are rare occasions when such seemingly unworkable alchemy does pay off, such as the epics "Dr. Zhivago" and "Reds."

Speaking of the "Zhivago," that film seems to be an inspiration for the Oscar-nominated drama "East-West."

As engrossing as this film's story is at times, though, it does lack the sweep of David Lean's beloved 1965 Oscar-winner or of its equally revered source material, Boris Pasternak's novel.

So instead, "East-West" has to settle for being a well-acted, interesting, watchable piece that falls short of greatness.

Rather than using literature for its basis, the story in "East-West" is drawn from the real-life experiences of "travelers," Russian emigres who returned to their home country following World War II.

For physician Alexei Golovin (Oleg Menchikov), it's a vastly different country from the one he left during the war. Having married Marie ("La Ceremonie's" Sandrine Bonnaire), a French citizen, he finds himself under intense scrutiny.

But things are even harder for Marie, who has been accused of being a spy. In essence, she's become a prisoner in the couple's apartment, a cramped one-room dive in a crumbling Kiev building.

Unaware of the many personal and professional sacrifices Alexei has made to keep her and their son (Ruben Tapiero) safe from harm, she begins seeking ways to escape from behind the Iron Curtain.

She also seeks solace in the person of Sascha (Russian television star Serguei Bodrov Jr.), a young athlete who also lives in the building. The two are fortunate to run into Gabrielle Develay (Catherine Deneuve), a French actress with left-wing political beliefs who may be able to help them get out.

Granted, this is a promising idea and, after all, it is built around a fascinating, little-told piece of cultural history. But director Regis Wargnier ("Indochine") and three other screenwriters (including Bodrov's father, a filmmaker in his own right) nearly botch it with Hollywoodlike storytelling conventions.

Particularly unsuccessful is the subplot about Marie and Sascha's burgeoning romance, as well as the clunky transitions between passages of time.

Also, some of the characters are a bit underdeveloped, particularly those of Bodrov (who also starred with Menchikov in "Prisoner of the Mountains") and the always-luminous Deneuve — although both actors try their darndest to make them seem deeper than they are written.

Fortunately, Bonnaire and especially Menchikov make for sympathetic leads, which helps give the film's somewhat emotional finale some added heft.

"East-West" is rated PG-13 for violence (some gunfire and slapping, including violence against women), scattered profanity and a brief, discreet sex scene. Running time: 121 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com