The Lower Depths

Plot

Inhabitants of a flophouse struggle to survive under the harsh treatment imposed by the landlord, Kostyleva. One resident, young thief Wasska Pepel, ends his affair with the landlord's wife, Vassilissa, and takes up with her sister, Natacha. Pepel also befriends the baron, a former nobleman fallen on hard times, but Pepel's attempts at happiness are complicated when he's accused of murder by a spiteful Vassilissa.

Why watch

In a dimly lit flophouse, young thief Wasska Pepel navigates the treacherous waters of love and betrayal, entangled with the landlord's wife and her sister. The film immerses you in a world where fleeting connections are overshadowed by despair, and the weight of past glories hangs heavy in the air.

Talking points

• the impact of socioeconomic status on personal relationships
• the nature of survival in oppressive environments
• the interplay of love and betrayal in desperate circumstances

Cultural context

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