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      The First Circle

      1991 3h 9m Drama List
      Reviews In post-World War II Russia, paranoid Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (F. Murray Abraham) unjustly imprisons legions of his fellow countrymen with the help of his brutally violent security head, Victor Abakumov (Christopher Plummer). When technologically gifted prisoners like Lew Rubin (Victor Garber) find themselves in less hostile camps where they're forced to use their talents to aid Stalin's quest, they must decide to either help the communist cause or rebel against it. Read More Read Less

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      Audience Member A group of dissident scientists in Stalin's Russia try to survive in a prison camp and contemplate the moral questions of helping the regime that imprisons them. What's interesting about this film is what I wrote in the plot summary. The ethical question about survival versus assisting injustice is adequately explored in the Solzhenitsyn's famous book and treated well in the film. The film's problems are its production quality and episodic script. It's clear that this is a made-for-TV film before TV became worthwhile, and the events seem disconnected and not part of a cogent plotline. Also, the performances are nothing to write home about. The above-the-title actor, F. Murray Abraham, has a bit part, and the rest of the actors are green, with voices that sound extra-performative. Overall, if it weren't for the strength of the source material, this film would be total shit. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Jul 09 - Nothing more than a tele-theater. The story does not engage anyone and leaves you with the picture of a talkative Christopher Plummer. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis In post-World War II Russia, paranoid Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (F. Murray Abraham) unjustly imprisons legions of his fellow countrymen with the help of his brutally violent security head, Victor Abakumov (Christopher Plummer). When technologically gifted prisoners like Lew Rubin (Victor Garber) find themselves in less hostile camps where they're forced to use their talents to aid Stalin's quest, they must decide to either help the communist cause or rebel against it.
      Director
      Sheldon Larry
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      3h 9m