Crime and Punishment is a 2002 American-Russian-Polish drama film written and directed by Menahem Golan and starring Crispin Glover and Vanessa Redgrave. It is an adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's 1866 novel of the same name. The film was filmed in 1993 but not released until 2002.
Contents
Plot
Though the story of Crime and Punishment was written and set in the 19th century, this film version takes place in the late 20th century. Rodion Raskolnikov, a student in his twenties who lives in Moscow, has published a paper in which he argues that certain superior individuals can legitimately ignore laws, even those against murder. He acts out this arrogant theory by murdering an old woman, who is a pawnbroker, and her sister, who accidentally witnesses the crime. In the aftermath, Raskolnikov is increasingly tortured by his conscience.
Cast
Crispin Glover as Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov
Vanessa Redgrave as Rodion's mother
John Hurt as Porfiry, chief investigator
Margot Kidder as Mrs. Katerina Marmeladova
John Neville as Marmeladov, Sonia's alcoholic father
Sophie Ward as Dunia, Rodion's sister
Patricia Hayes as Alyona Ivanovna, old pawnbroker
Theodore Bikel as Captain Koch
Clive Revill as Zamyotov
Ron Perlman as Dusharo
Matt Servitto as Razumikhin, Rodion's friend
Avital Dicker as Sonia Marmeladova, prostitute
Release
The release of the film was restricted by legal matters that left it seized in a bankruptcy lien.
It was eventually released in the UK on DVD by Prism Leisure Corporation.