A demon, a nuclear demon... Let him remain a dream forever.
Rock by Augustus, The Demon.
In memory of Andrey Mironov - in gratitude for your last TV show. Thank you, Genius. You are always in our hearts.
It has been 30 years since White Roses, Pink Elephants was played, but the themes raised in it remain relevant. The theme of the nuclear threat, protest against the arms race; the theme of cruelty and - humanity, mercy; philosophical and eternal theme of life and death.
The whole backbone of the plot of the TV play, in fact, is tied to two characters - nun Molly Egan and Massachusetts state judge Henry Pulansky. Molly protests against the manufacture of nuclear weapons and, holding protests in the memory of Hiroshima, repeatedly violates the boundaries of private ownership - the Skidmore laboratory, where nuclear weapons are manufactured.
The dry letter of the law states that Molly committed a crime and should be punished. Her persistence and unwillingness to admit her guilt, her passion in this fruitless, predetermined struggle, only set up a court against her. A lonely woman who believes she will win, fearlessly challenging the state, the law, the world. And she survived. It didn't beat the system, no, but it stayed intact. “I cannot change the whole world, but I can change one part of the world. This particle is me, says Molly, and some strange force blows from her words. Believe her, despite her strangeness - and marvel at her strength, the rightness of her words.
And her judge, Henry Pulansky, is also gradually imbued with her strength and her truly fantastic belief in her rightness. A judge, a respected man in the state, he strictly follows the letter of the law. “I have come to love the strictness of the formula of the law. For the law is beautiful, Henry declares with sad pride, and quietly adds, “But I no longer like the law itself.” Under the influence of Molly Egan, he largely revises his own views and worldviews. He cannot remain indifferent to her story, she touches him. “I’m genuinely concerned about what’s going on with you,” Henry says during his meeting with Molly.
Behind Henry’s external dryness, behind his calmness, rationalism, even cynicism, lies the “bleeding heart of pity.” This man who deifies the law, who closes his eyes to the injustice that is happening around him, is in fact deeply, completely alone. His wife left him, the only and beloved son does not want to communicate. "My boy hates me," Henry whispers with pain and bitterness, addressing Molly, subconsciously seeking exactly her sympathy. And as a child, this “respectable man of the state” experienced a mental trauma – his mother committed suicide in front of his eyes.
But Molly Egan, Molly's sister, is no less lonely in this world than her judge. The only creature close to her is the old dog Ethelius, the “half-dead dog,” as Henry called her with a strange bitter grin. A strange, unsettled woman, Molly Egan, living in an almshouse in deep and pitiful poverty. And Henry Pulansky needs her alone as much as he needs her. But if Molly is trying to "save" Henry's soul, Henry himself saves Molly from her.
The strange relationship between these two so different, even diametrically opposed characters is revealed in dialogue throughout the show - in court, on the beach, during a prison date, in a prison hospital and finally on the terrace of Henry's house. Gradually, we learn the stories of both characters, we pass them through. Both Molly and Henry are strong, determined people, but not without flaws. Henry is the embodiment of rationality, Molly is the emotional. And sometimes Henry is too committed to formalities, and Molly is too restless, naive, stubborn. But both of these people have a beautiful, living soul.
The TV show itself is visually very pleasant to watch, despite the simplicity and some convention of the scenery. But the play of the actors, their sincere play and emotions, as well as gently - disturbing music by Alfred Schnittke create both the right mood and the right atmosphere without scenery. And the further you watch a TV show, the more you think about your own life, trying to learn the philosophical meaning of being. "What do the dead think?" asks Henry, feeling with his restless soul something terrible, inevitable. “About life,” Molly replied thoughtfully but confidently. How much you want to believe!
A bitter, heavy feeling leaves behind this TV show - but it also gives hope. White roses blooming in the garden in front of Henry’s beloved terrace are a symbol of hope. And pink elephants, a drawing on a bag of peanuts - this is definitely a symbol of childhood, because it was peanuts from such a bag that Molly cheerfully clicked. Childhood, where there seemed to be only good and bright. And where there is no place for any nuclear threat ...
With a pinched heart, we approach the finale, see Henry Pulansky’s tears, hear his quiet, pinched voice: “Where is everyone going?” And of course, we can't help but share Henry's longing, feel his desolation, his despair. But the TV show still leaves behind glimmers of light and hope. Before our eyes stands the image of Molly Egan, unprecedentedly courageous and courageous, confident in her destiny. And there is the image of Henry, who turned out to be truly human and merciful. As long as there is courage and mercy in people’s hearts, understanding how important it is to remain human, the nuclear demon, I hope, will remain a dream forever.
10 out of 10