Film Studies

Cinema Classics Seminar:
Doctor Zhivago

Date Night with the Academy
Saturday, February 22, 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm  
Instructor: Jennifer Fleeger, Ph.D., Ursinus College

Historical epics reveal a great deal about the time of their production, even as they purport to speak about the past. Set during WWI and the Russian Revolution, Doctor Zhivago was released into a world fraught with Cold War fear and isolation. Does the smash hit film based on Boris Pasternak’s incredibly popular novel signal an interpretation of current events in 1965? And if so, what does any of this have to do with that infernal balalaika? 

This seminar situates both film and novel in the politics of the period in order to understand the extraordinary international reception of this love story. We’ll ask how the foregrounding of romance in Hollywood cinema has affected depictions of war, comparing this film to other on-screen representations of these particular struggles. We will discuss how the careers of stars Omar Sharif and Julie Christie contributed to interpretations of the film and talk about the work of director David Lean, no stranger to epic films. We’ll examine the substitution of Spain and Finland for “Russia” on screen, asking questions about the importance of realism for films of the 1960s. Finally, we’ll ask whether it’s possible for any film to avoid ideology and consider what it means for us to devote an afternoon in 2025 to a great movie like Doctor Zhivago. 

Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.

Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.

Please contact BMFI Programs and Education Coordinator Jill Malcolm with any questions.