This is a story about Greek slave Esop, who contributed a lot to the world of literature, and about his silly owner, who had the power and money, but did not have kindness.
Acting
Kalyagin's Esop: smug, suffering, and serving face.
Production
Gloriously fake Mediterranean sets shot in Soviet Georgia.
Director
Oleg Ryabokon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during the late Soviet 'heritage film' boom, when state TV pumped out literary adaptations to prove cultural superiority.
Kalyagin and Tabakov were real-life best friends; their on-screen antagonism reportedly required multiple takes because they kept cracking each other up.
SU
