MovieChat Forums > Ostrov (2006) Discussion > was Fr. Anatoly a real person?

was Fr. Anatoly a real person?

posted 15 years ago by Fjordy
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm an Orthodox Christian and I've read a lot of books about Elders and Saints. I thought this move was very, very well-done it almost felt like reading about Saints like Elder Nektary of Optina or Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos (whom I don't think has been offically canonized, but he's a Saint in my book!). I was wondering if the Fr. Anatoly in this movie really existed or if this was a kind of true/fiction movie based on Orthodox monks but with fictional characters?

[–] tresfouer 15 years ago

It is my understanding (based mostly on the wikipedia entry for the movie) that Fr Anatoly is a fictional character. It could be that he is a "composite" of several of the holy fools for Christ. Someone suggested to me that the movie is loosely based on the life of Blessed Theofil, the fool for Christ (d. 1853), but I have no idea if this the case. Obviously Blessed Theofil died a hundred years before the events of the film. I think the film makers just intended for Anatoly to be a fictional but realistic portrayal of a fool for Christ.

[–] SeisCinemaSeis 15 years ago

I doubt Anataloy's character was based on a real person. Most likely it is a fictional character based to some extent in the numerous "Holy-Men" who used to dwell in Russia in other times.

[–] franciscotrejo1980 13 years ago

It reminded me of Starets Zosima and the other monks on The Brothers Karamazov.