Fear and the Muse: The Story of Anna Akhmatova on AllMovie

The poet Anna Akhmatova (1889-1996) was a well-known figure among artists and literati of pre-revolutionary Russia. During the Soviet revolution, her emotional and personal work, full of strong feelings for old Russia, made her a political target - which placed her family and friends in danger, with tragic consequences. Her own life was not taken, but she was forced to live in fear and poverty, and - although her poetry was banned by Stalin - she continued to write for decades. Narrated by Christopher Reeve, the documentary tells Akhmatova's story, using historical footage, interviews with poets and critics, and examples of her poetry (read by actress Claire Bloom).