Why skip the whole extremely creepy dream sequence and his suicide? It was such a memorable scene in the book, plus the actor playing him was REALLY good. They had no problem showing deaths before...
Soviet art was noted for a reluctance to portray fatal endings. They even changed the end of the ballet "Swan Lake" so that that Siegfried and Odette sail off into the sunrise instead of plummeting to their deaths in the lake. Happy endings!
shareI see. What also struck me was how the religious themes were omitted, especially when Sonya reads the Bible to appeal to Raskolnikov's conscience. Perhaps there was an element of socialist realism behind this adaptation. I think the OP had a really good point and I was disappointed they left out Svidrigailov's dream. In case anyone hasn't read the book yet, I won't give away the ending. But I mean, how depraved could Svidrigailov get yet in the end he does seem to feel guilt for his crimes!
share