Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Last updated:
September 21, 2025

David Lean’s Doctor Zhivago (1965) is one of the most iconic historical epics of cinema, blending sweeping romance with the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Based on Boris Pasternak’s novel, the film captures the personal and political upheaval of early 20th-century Russia through the eyes of a poet-physician torn between love and loyalty.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Prologue: The Search for Lara

The movie begins years after the Russian Revolution, with General Yevgraf Zhivago (Alec Guinness) narrating. He is investigating the life of his half-brother, Yuri Zhivago, and trying to determine if a young woman might be the daughter of Yuri and Lara. This framing device sets up the tragic love story.

Early Life of Yuri Zhivago

Yuri (Omar Sharif) loses his mother at a young age and is taken in by family friends. He grows into a talented doctor and poet, eventually marrying Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), the daughter of his adoptive family. Their marriage is loving but somewhat restrained, grounded in tradition rather than passion.

Lara and Pasha

Parallel to Yuri’s story is Lara (Julie Christie), a strong and independent woman. She is involved with the manipulative Victor Komarovsky (Rod Steiger), a powerful man who seduces her while she’s still very young. Despite this toxic relationship, Lara marries Pasha Antipov (Tom Courtenay), a passionate idealist who later becomes a ruthless revolutionary leader.

The Meeting of Yuri and Lara

Yuri and Lara first cross paths in Moscow, but their lives fully intertwine during World War I, where both work in a field hospital. Their connection deepens amidst the chaos, yet both remain tied to their respective spouses.

Revolution and Upheaval

As the Russian Revolution unfolds, society collapses into violence and chaos. Property is seized, families are uprooted, and ideologies clash. Pasha transforms into Strelnikov, a feared Bolshevik commander, while Yuri and Lara are pulled closer together by circumstance and emotion.

Yuri’s Internal Struggle

Yuri struggles between duty to his wife Tonya and his undeniable passion for Lara. He becomes increasingly disillusioned with the brutality of the revolution. His poetry, which celebrates love and beauty in the midst of destruction, is considered politically dangerous.

Zhivago and Lara in Varykino

Eventually, Yuri and Lara escape together to the secluded Varykino estate, where they briefly live an idyllic life in isolation. It is here that their love reaches its peak—tender, passionate, and doomed. The scenes at Varykino highlight the fleeting beauty of their relationship against the backdrop of history’s harsh realities.

Movie Ending

The ending is deeply tragic and emblematic of the novel’s themes of love, fate, and history. Yuri and Lara’s happiness at Varykino is cut short. Strelnikov (Pasha) is captured and executed, and Lara is taken away, never to be seen again. Yuri is left broken and alone, torn apart by the revolution and the loss of his great love.

Years later, Yuri dies in Moscow, collapsing on the street from a heart attack as he desperately tries to catch up with a woman he believes might be Lara. His death is witnessed by strangers who barely notice the significance of his life or work—a cruel reminder of how history forgets even its brightest figures.

In the framing narrative, Yevgraf suggests that a young woman may be the daughter of Yuri and Lara, but the truth is never definitively confirmed. This ambiguity mirrors the uncertainty and loss that pervades the entire film.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Doctor Zhivago does not have post-credits scenes. The film ends firmly with Yuri’s story and Yevgraf’s narration, closing in a classic and definitive way characteristic of epics from the 1960s.

Type of Movie

This is a historical romantic drama/epic, combining sweeping landscapes, intimate love stories, and a backdrop of war and revolution.

Cast

Omar Sharif as Yuri Zhivago
Julie Christie as Lara Antipova
Geraldine Chaplin as Tonya Gromeko
Rod Steiger as Victor Komarovsky
Tom Courtenay as Pasha Antipov / Strelnikov
Alec Guinness as General Yevgraf Zhivago
Ralph Richardson as Alexander Gromeko

Film Music and Composer

The unforgettable score was composed by Maurice Jarre, with the iconic “Lara’s Theme” becoming one of the most recognizable film melodies in history. The music plays a vital role, symbolizing the romance at the heart of the story.

Filming Locations

Though set in Russia, the movie was filmed primarily in Spain (Madrid and Soria), Finland, and Canada. Spain’s landscapes substituted for Russian steppes and towns, while ice palaces and winter scenes were created with fake snow and set design, since the real Russian locations were inaccessible during the Cold War.

Awards and Nominations

Won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design.
Nominated for 10 Oscars total, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Won 5 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture (Drama).

Behind the Scenes Insights

Omar Sharif originally wanted to play Pasha, but David Lean insisted he was perfect for Zhivago.
Filming the ice palace scenes required wax sprayed over furniture to simulate frost.
Julie Christie was reportedly uncomfortable with some of the more intimate scenes but praised Lean’s vision.
Snow was so hard to replicate convincingly that tons of fake snow were imported into Spain.
Boris Pasternak’s novel was banned in the Soviet Union, so filming there was impossible.

Inspirations and References

The film is based on Boris Pasternak’s Nobel Prize-winning novel Doctor Zhivago. The story reflects Pasternak’s own struggles with censorship and political oppression in the Soviet Union. Themes of love versus duty, individuality versus ideology, and beauty amidst destruction dominate both the novel and film.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings. However, David Lean cut certain scenes for pacing, including additional material about Lara’s life before meeting Yuri. Lean wanted to keep the narrative focused tightly on the love story.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The novel is far more expansive, delving deeply into Russian culture, philosophy, and politics.
The film emphasizes the romance between Yuri and Lara, while the book devotes more time to Yuri’s inner thoughts and his poetry.
Several characters and subplots from the novel are condensed or removed in the film.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The first meeting between Yuri and Lara in the hospital.
The train journey across Russia with its stark portrayal of revolution.
The ice palace at Varykino, a hauntingly beautiful sequence.
Yuri’s final, tragic collapse on the streets of Moscow.

Iconic Quotes

“They rode into the night, into the snow, into the legend of Lara.”
“A man is what he must be. He cannot deny his nature.”
“Lara… I’ll always be with you.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Lean includes several symbolic uses of winter: snow often represents death, exile, and the frozen state of human freedom.
The color red is consistently linked to revolution and destruction, while soft, golden tones highlight moments of intimacy between Yuri and Lara.
Lara’s Theme plays at different tempos throughout, mirroring the stages of her relationship with Zhivago.

Trivia

The film was a huge box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
Boris Pasternak never saw the movie, as he died in 1960.
David Lean initially considered Peter O’Toole for the role of Zhivago.
The film ran for over 3 hours, making it one of the longest mainstream films of its era.

Why Watch?

Because it’s not just a love story—it’s a portrait of how political upheaval crushes human lives and relationships. The sweeping cinematography, unforgettable score, and heartbreaking romance make it one of the greatest epics in film history.

Director’s Other Movies

Recommended Films for Fans

Gone with the Wind (1939)
War and Peace (1956)
Reds (1981)
Anna Karenina (2012)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Doctor Zhivago (1965)