The Last Station

Even Tolstoy was not always a good Tolstoyan. When he gets a new secretary the compromise between his beliefs and his actual life come into sharp focus. Many thousands have begun to follow the man, but has the principle of love and freedom been lost?

 

This is a film about experiencing the movement in the mind from one of following an ideal towards one of living a life of freedom and love. Asked to be Tolstoy’s new secretary, Valentin is put in an observer role; he keeps parallel journals reflecting the public and private personas of one devoted to experiencing the truth. Through the intimacy of this assignment he is given a unique opportunity to discover what is truly important. Aided by Masha, who symbolizes the spirit of the movement, Valentin explores following the letter of the law versus the law of Spirit.

 

Tolstoy’s wife is simultaneously his biggest support and his greatest downfall. The special love, faith, and devotion in their marriage that had once been used by the Spirit to support the dissemination of the message is now being controlled by controversy and compromise. But Tolstoy’s belief in loyalty to his wife and devotion to his cause has him split and weakened. Persons do not become enlightened. Follow the way, not the man.