

One man, seven Chekhov stories, infinite faces — and somehow it's hilarious.
Igor Ilyinsky reads Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s stories “The Death of an Official”, “Over Salted”, “The Orator”, “The Night Before the Trial”, “The Daughter of Albion”, “Boots”, “Chameleon”, as much as performing a wide variety of characters.
Acting
Ilyinsky transforms between dozens of distinct physical personas.
Direction
Seamless story transitions feel like live variety performance.

Director
Igor Ilyinsky
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film captures Soviet 'teatr kino' — the beloved tradition of stage actors bringing theatrical virtuosity to screen.
Ilyinsky was already 70 during filming, having originated many of these Chekhov interpretations on stage decades earlier.