This historical documentary explores the complex life and profound impact of Leo Tolstoy, the renowned Russian author. It traces his journey from aristocratic privilege and youthful excesses to his spiritual awakenings and philosophical evolution, highlighting his literary masterpieces like "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina," and his later advocacy for simple living and non-violence.
Tolstoy experienced a profound spiritual crisis in his mid-50s, after completing "Anna Karenina." He felt a deep despair and a sense of meaninglessness, despite his literary success, wealth, and family life. He described a temptation to commit suicide and felt that everything that had previously mattered to him no longer did.
This crisis led him to a re-examination of his life and beliefs. He began reading the Gospels intensely and found answers in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. He developed a personal interpretation of Christianity that stripped away miracles, the divinity of Christ, and religious rituals or institutions, focusing instead on the practical wisdom for living. He believed he alone understood this simple doctrine, which emphasized individual moral reform and the constant effort to overcome one's weaknesses.
