this film under the title of lover prayer be show recently on cable . not have see the film before and we decide to take a chance on it . director reverge anselmo have adapt two short story and by ivan turgenev and anton chekhov and have give it a beautiful production . most of the comment one find in this forum seem to have be submit by fan of kirsten dunst and nick stahl and which in a way and be unfair to what mr. anselmo be try to achieve . this be a film that cry for an all british cast . zinaida and vladimir be play by two talented american star and who be clearly out of their league in hold themselves against some of the best english actor of stage and screen . in fact and market the film and try to capitalize on the well know face and be the wrong approach . that say and the two story be intertwine and offer u a view of how thing be do in the period before the russian revolution . we be give a situation here show u a young woman and the daughter of a somewhat eccentric and vulgar princess and who be the center of attraction among the vacation muscovite because of her beauty . zinaida and be love by young vladimir and be separate from her young lover because his mother see the danger in a relationship that be clearly below the young man situation in life . the film have an ironic twist at the end a the young lover never get to consummate the passion they feel for one another . we watch in horror what fate zinaida be face and nothing have prepare u for that ultimate reality . julie walter and geraldine james be excellent a the mother of zinaida and vladimir and respectively . nick stahl and kirsten dunst do good work under the mr. anselmos direction . it clear both these actor be not classically train to appear in this type of period drama . james fox and nathaniel parker and the rest of the support player do a marvelous job . this film should be view by mature audience . the beautiful photography of the czech republic countryside and the magnificent interior add luster to the film .