Uncle Vanya follows the story of an aging, retired professor, Serebryakov, and his young, beautiful new wife, Elena, who visit the rural estate managed by Serebryakov's daughter, Sonya, and his brother-in-law, Vanya. The family soon finds themselves in turmoil as buried feelings of resentment, unrequited love, and unfulfilled dreams are slowly revealed.
Toby Jones delivers a standout performance as the title character, Vanya, who is struggling with his unrequited love for Elena while also harboring resentment towards his brother-in-law for seemingly wasting his life. Richard Armitage is also notable as Astrov, a famous but disillusioned doctor who becomes infatuated with Elena.
The filming took place over a period of three days at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, capturing the final performances that were unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic. The film is directed by Ian Rickson, who also directed the stage production, and the screenplay is adapted by Conor McPherson. It offers a unique opportunity to see a celebrated theatre production on the big screen, bringing Chekhov's timeless classic to a wider audience.