Movie Profile: LOVE AND DEATH
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | Love and Death |
| Country | United States / France (Filmed in Hungary and France) |
| Release Date | June 10, 1975 (United States) |
| Director & Writer | Woody Allen |
| Producer | Charles H. Joffe |
| Genre | Comedy, War, History |
| Runtime | 85 minutes |
| Box Office | $20.1 million |
| Distributor | United Artists |
| Lead Cast |
• Woody Allen (Boris Grushenko) • Diane Keaton (Sonja) • Harold Gould (Count Anton Ivanovich) • Olga Georges-Picot (Countess Alexandrovna) • Zvee Scooler (Father Nikolai) • Jessica Harper (Natasha) • James Tolkan (Napoleon Bonaparte) |
| Accolades & Honors | • 25th Berlin International Film Festival (1975): Won UNICRIT Award; Nominated for Golden Bear |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Set in Tsarist Russia during the Napoleonic Wars, Boris Grushenko (Woody Allen) is a neurotically philosophical, cowardly scholar who holds a deep affection for his distant cousin Sonja (Diane Keaton). Unlike his war-eager brothers, Boris despises violence and spends his time pondering existentialism, morality, and mortality.
When Napoleon Bonaparte invades Russia in 1812, Boris is drafted into the Imperial Russian Army against his will. Through a series of sheer accidents and hilarious blunders—including inadvertently getting trapped inside a cannon during combat—Boris miraculously emerges as a decorated war hero.
Upon returning home, Boris marries Sonja, who agrees to the match under the mistaken assumption that Boris will perish in an impending duel. When he survives, the newlyweds bond over endless philosophical debates. As Napoleon advances deeper into Russia, Sonja convinces a reluctant Boris to join her in an absurd conspiracy to assassinate the French Emperor in Moscow, leading to unexpected metaphysical consequences.
