This was totally a sleeper. I didn't see it coming. Lara Romanoff and Biff McGuire made this a very memorable film. I want to Ms Romanoff and Mr Mc Guire did a great job in the leads in this fascinating and highly interesting new film directed by Mike Guinzburg. The screenplay was weak at times but toward the end it tightened up quickly to a dramatic ending. Between the quality of acting and great soundtrack to go with a great finish. I have never read Chekov so i don't know how well it follows his book "The Seagull but whatever or how well they followed the story the movie turned out very good. I took a very artsy date who loves foreign films and she thought it had a very foreign flare to the filming style.