AllMovie

Comedy combines with tragedy in acclaimed playwright Anton Chekhov's dramatic breakthrough concerning an aspiring writer who harbors dreams of transforming the theatrical experience. As friends and family gather at a remote country estate to attend the premiere performance of fledgling writer/producer Konstantin (Frank Langella)'s latest experimental play, the presence of his self-absorbed mother and her high profile lover Trigorin not only shifts the focus away from the production, but also changes the lives of all who attend.