Arena (1975)

Oblomov (1990x2)

Air date: Jan 26, 1990

Oblomov is a slob. Even Gorbachev is said to have denounced him from the podium: "We must stamp out the Oblomovs from our society." The lazy aristocrat of Goncharov's 19th-century masterpiece has become a Russian folk-hero. After 100 years asleep, Oblomov is re-awoken in modern-day Russia - this time as a lazy party bureaucrat. Perestroika, quite frankly, bores him. He was more at home in Brezhnev's "Period of Stagnation". Oblomov's foul-tempered chauffeur, Zachar, narrates this bizarre tragi-comedy - for the story of Oblomov's vain attempts to raise himself from his bed is the story of Russia. Filmed on location in the Soviet Union.