The Brothers Karamazov (1958)

In the heart of Ryevsk, a small Russian town, a storm brews in the 1870s under the roof of the wealthy libertine, Fyodor Karamazov. This man of lust and decadence has four adult sons, each bearing a distinct persona carved out of their varying experiences, all bound by the common thread of their father's disdain and indifference. Fyodor's first wife's wealth fuels his hedonistic desires, leaving his sons yearning for their rightful share, especially Dmitri, an elegant army lieutenant with a proclivity for gambling and a heart full of resentment towards his father. Dmitri, the embodiment of his father's depravity, navigates through life with a distinct sense of entitlement, waiting for the moment he can claim his mother's wealth. His desperation leads him down the aisle with the virtuous Katya, a union born out of honor rather than love. But as fate would have it, Dmitri's heart finds solace in the arms of Grushenka, a voluptuous tavern owner, stirring the pot of familial discord further. Alexi, the youngest and the most pious, stands as a stark contrast to his brothers and father. His love for his father mirrors his love for all mankind, making him an anomaly in the Karamazov clan. Ivan, the second eldest, is an emotionally troubled aesthete spending most of his time in Moscow, scribing for the newspaper business. Then there's the illegitimate and epileptic Pavel Smerdjakov, serving Fyodor as a personal servant, living on the periphery of the family. As Dmitri's love for Grushenka blossoms, Fyodor's machinations to make Dmitri's life difficult intensify. The patriarch's unyielding grip on his wealth and his own proposition to Grushenka ignites a fierce competition, leading to a volatile eruption of tensions within the family. What ensues is a labyrinth of betrayal, jealousy, and violence, where every corner turned reveals trials of honor, conscience, and redemption. The Brothers Karamazov is a riveting exploration of familial ties strained to the breaking point, bound by blood yet divided by greed and resentment.

The Brothers Karamazov is a drama movie featuring Yul Brynner.

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