Part I: A child of Russian royalty, Zoya's comfortable world is shattered by the Russian Revolution and the death of her parents. She flees to Paris with her grandmother, struggling to survive her first taste of poverty. T... more »here she finds true love with American Capt. Clayton Andrews whom she marries over her grandmother's objections. But the happiness is brief, as the stock market crash of '29 leads to her husband's death. Part II: With the death of Clayton, Zoya begins the struggle to rise from poverty once again while raising her children. Work in a local dress shop proves a perfect match for her talents and business skill. Success as an entrepreneur leads to a meeting with fashion magnate Simon Hirsch. They marry, but this marriage is also fated to end in heartache. Now raising her own grandchild, Zoya makes an emotional pilgrimage back to her homeland.« less
"I had read the book first and loved it. So I was eager to watch the movie of it.
I understand that the books are always better than movie version, and they have to cut scenes out from the book, but they not only cut through (what seems as half the book) they also changed so much of the story. Had I saw the movie first, I probably wouldn't have wanted to read the book.
The story itself (for the movie version) is still good. It does connect you to the book even more.
I wasn't too thrilled with Melissa Gilbert as Zoya, she did ok. Simon wasn't really what I expected either. But the other characters were great. Bruce filled the role of Clayton perfectly.
If you haven't read the book, I would recommend reading the book first, then watching the movie.
"
Touching...
Glen Choo | Singapore | 03/10/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's almost as good as the book. Really worth the dough. However, some parts of the movie is pretty stiff."
ZERO stars...
Meme | 06/18/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"...for Melissa Gilbert. She is absolutely pathetic as the main carachter. I can't believe they showed her dancing ballet, as a teenager. She looks like a fat, white duck, absolutely graceless, fat and stumbling in the stage. Ridiculous. Plus, the historical mishaps already mentioned by other reviewers. Bruce Boxleitner still very handsome; pity Clayton was a short lived character."
Heather's "Zoya" Review
Heather A. Sweeten | Florida Cracker Country | 01/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wanted to see this film after watching on television another one of the films based on one of her books. What drew me to it was how Zoya escaped the fate of her family. If I could get a few of her books I want to read on dvd instead, I would buy them too."