"Little Tragedies" is a three-part television film directed by Mikhail Schweitzer, made at the Mosfilm studio in 1979. The film’s connecting frame is a loose adaptation of Pushkin’s unfinished tale "Egyptian Nights." The "Little Tragedies" themselves appear as spontaneous performances improvised by the Improviser on themes suggested by the audience within "Egyptian Nights."
About the Director
Mikhail Abramovich Schweitzer (1920-2000) was an outstanding Soviet film director and screenwriter, People’s Artist of the USSR. He was known for his adaptations of literary classics, among them "The Golden Calf," "Dead Souls," and "The Flight of Mr. McKinley." "Little Tragedies" was made together with his wife and co-director, Sofia Milkina.
Origins
The film was made to mark the 180th anniversary of Pushkin’s birth. Filming took place in 1979 in Leningrad, Tallinn, and Lviv. For the sake of authenticity, some scenes were shot in genuine historical interiors.
A distinctive feature of the film was its outstanding cast — nearly every leading actor in Soviet cinema of the day appears in it. Vladimir Vysotsky played two roles at once — Don Guan and the Chairman in "A Feast in Time of Plague."
The Film’s Structure
The film consists of three episodes, adapting the following works:
- Episode one: "A Scene from Faust" (used as a prologue), incorporating material from "Sketches for a Faust Concept," "Egyptian Nights," "Mozart and Salieri," and "The Coffin-Maker."
- Episode two: "The Miserly Knight," "Egyptian Nights," "The Stone Guest," "Guests Were Gathering at the Dacha...," "On the Corner of a Small Square...," "We Spent the Evening at the Dacha...," "I Am Here, Inezilla."
- Episode three: "The Stone Guest," "A Feast in Time of Plague," "There Lived a Poor Knight."
The Line "I’m Bored, Demon"
The famous line "I’m bored, demon" is spoken in the first episode of the film, in the segment "A Scene from Faust." The role of Mephistopheles was played to great effect by Nikolai Kochegarov, with Ivars Kalniņš as Faust. In Pushkin’s original work, "A Scene from Faust" (1825), this phrase is Faust’s opening line, addressed to Mephistopheles.
Notably, this short line, unassuming as it seems, embodies one of the central themes of Pushkin’s work — the theme of boredom, of being sated with life, of the inner emptiness of a man who has achieved everything and tried everything.
Popularity
After its release in 1979, the film became enormously popular. Its television broadcasts drew audiences of many millions across the USSR. Vladimir Vysotsky’s performance as Don Guan was especially well received — it was one of his last film roles (Vysotsky died in 1980).
The film was regularly rebroadcast on central television throughout the 1980s and 1990s. "Little Tragedies" is considered one of the finest screen adaptations of Pushkin’s work in the history of Soviet cinema, and a model of high-quality television filmmaking.
The film was awarded the USSR State Prize for 1983 in literature, art, and architecture.
The Text of the Scene
THE SEASHORE. FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES.
Faust
I’m bored, demon.
Mephistopheles
What’s to be done, Faust? Such is the limit set for you, and no one ever crosses it. Every reasoning creature is bored: this one from idleness, that one from toil; one man believes, another has lost his faith; one never got the chance to savor pleasure, another savored it past all measure, and each man yawns his way through life — and the grave, yawning too, awaits you all. So yawn along with them.
Faust
A dry sort of joke! Find me some way, somehow, to be distracted.
Mephistopheles
Be content with that proof of good sense. Write it in your notebook: Fastidium est quies — boredom is the soul’s repose. I’m quite the psychologist, you see — what a science! Tell me, when were you not bored? Think, search your memory. Was it when you dozed over Virgil, while the birch-rod kept your mind alert? Or was it when you crowned willing maidens with roses for their pleasure, and in the roaring riot devoted to them the ardor of your evening’s aftermath? Or was it when you sank into generous dreams, into the dark abyss of learning? But — I recall — it was out of boredom, then, that you finally summoned me, like a harlequin, out of the fire. I writhed for you like a petty demon, tried hard to cheer you up, carried you off to witches and to spirits, and what came of it? Nothing but trifles. You wanted glory — and you got it. You wanted to fall in love — and you fell in love. You took from life whatever tribute it could give. But were you happy?
Faust
Enough. Don’t reopen that secret wound. In deep knowledge there is no life — I have cursed the false light of learning, and glory... its stray beam is fleeting, elusive. Worldly honor is meaningless, like a dream... But there is one true good: the union of two souls...
Mephistopheles
And the first meeting, isn’t that so? But might I ask whom you mean to invoke — not Gretchen, by any chance?
Faust
Oh, wondrous dream! Oh, pure flame of love! There, there — where there was shade, where there was the rustle of trees, where sweet-ringing streams flowed — there, resting my weary head upon her lovely breast, I was happy...
Mephistopheles
Heavenly Creator! You’re dreaming wide awake, Faust! You’re deceiving yourself with an obliging memory. Was it not I, through my own efforts, who delivered that wonder of beauty to you? And brought her to you in the depths of midnight? I remember it all — while the two of you were together, I was left to amuse myself alone with the fruits of my own labor. While your lovely one was in raptures, in ecstasy, your restless soul was already sinking into reflection (and the two of us have proven that reflection is the seed of boredom). And do you know, my philosopher, what you were thinking at a moment when no one thinks at all? Shall I tell you?
Faust
Speak. Well, what?
Mephistopheles
You thought: my obedient little lamb! How greedily I desired you! How cunningly I stirred up the dreams in that simple-hearted girl’s heart! — To a love involuntary, selfless, she innocently gave herself... So why is my breast now full of hateful longing and boredom?... I look at the victim of my whim, sated with pleasure, with unconquerable revulsion: just as a reckless fool, having rashly done an evil deed, having knifed a beggar in the woods, curses the ragged corpse; just as, on a bought beauty, once he’s hastily had his fill of her, debauchery casts a fearful, sidelong glance... And from all of this you drew just one conclusion...
Faust
Vanish, hellish creature! Flee from my sight!
Mephistopheles
As you wish. Just set me some task first — you know I dare not leave your side without one. I never waste my time.
Faust
What’s that white shape out there? Tell me.
Mephistopheles
A three-masted Spanish ship, bound for a Dutch harbor. Aboard her, some three hundred scoundrels, two monkeys, casks of gold, a rich cargo of chocolate, and a fashionable disease — one recently bestowed on you.
Faust
Sink it all.
Mephistopheles
At once.
(Vanishes.)