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UPDATE AS OF 22/11! There is now a Discord server[a] for Gonching.
SUB-UPDATE 23/08/24: While we honor our roots as the original Goncharov server and maintain channels dedicated to it, the Discord has been repurposed into a community based around collaborative storytelling, creative work including writing, art and others, and worldbuilding, and renamed to Garden of Narratives, Creativity, and Hobbies (or GoNCH). Join us if you’re interested!
UPDATE 23/11: Tomorrow (24/11) this page will be unavailable from 8:00 to 9:00 CST for maintenance. I will take time to re-order some of the scenes that have been misplaced then. If you have noticed any particular continuity issues with regards to scene order, please comment here so I can take care of it.
Change log: I was unfortunately unable to get to the scene order issue as I had to spend most of the time working with footnote issues. Hopefully this will be addressed in the next maintenance period!
UPDATE 25/11: Document will be offline from 8:00 to 9:30 CST for maintenance tonight. Thank you in advance for your patience!
Change log: Characters now show up in the navigation bar. Some scenes have been re-ordered chronologically, and the Plot section is now divided into three acts. The footnote issues are making me want to lie on the floor and disassociate.
UPDATE 28/11: The document will be offline again tonight from 8:00 to 9:30 CST for maintenance.
Change log: Music, Philosophical and Cultural Themes, and Costume and Production Design have all been moved to separate documents, but are still accessible through the Table of Contents. About half of the footnotes have been reviewed and corrected as per the guidelines, and the majority of suggestions have been addressed. Although the doc is now back online, there will be some minor changes continuing to pop up, such as a streamlining of a few of the summaries of characters & plots for easier reading :)
UPDATE 1/12: Updated links, changed document language to American English, and made small continuity edits.
UPDATE 3/10/23: The previous major formatting error has been fixed! Thank you to those who pointed it out and I apologise for the wait! – A.Utting
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Welcome! I (Connanro) am compiling information about the absolutely real film Goncharov (1973) for the ease of those who don’t have access to the nine-hour extended edition - or any of the other editions. This document contains three main sections: Characters, Plot, and Deleted Scenes. Music[b], Philosophical & Cultural Themes[c], Iconic Lines / Script Portions and Costume & Production Design[d] have been moved to separate documents in order to make this one less likely to crash. There are also Reference and Trivia sections at the end of the document for content that does not fit in the above categories.
Please do NOT delete text that others have written or suggested. Feel free to make grammatical corrections, change or relocate links and references into proper footnote form, and fix other formatting errors. If you want comments to not disappear after they’re resolved, join our shiny new Discord server!
Everyone has the ability to make suggestions and comments, and can leave their name or pseudonym in the Contributors section. If you want to be an official editor or have any other questions, please message me on Tumblr or Discord.
I will reject suggestions if they are deemed extraneous or do not fit within the “canon” of this document.
Be respectful and have fun Gonching!
I have been doing the footnotes in a style approximating Chicago Manual: Author; authors. “Title.” Media type or source. 21 November, 2022.
To make a footnote: Make sure your cursor is where you want the footnote to be. Under the “Insert” tab at the top of the document, select “Footnote.” This will direct you to the bottom of the page where you can make the footnote using the above style guide. On Windows systems, you can also use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+F. You can also use Ctrl+K as a shortcut for inserting links.
In order to prevent these materials from being removed from the public domain in the future, I have put them under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This license leaves you free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
Goncharov (Google Drive archive) | Wikipedia (AO3 replicate) |
This document would not exist without everyone’s help! Feel free to leave your name here if you’ve made any contributions - whether it’s correcting links, checking grammar, or adding information to the document.
Connanro (head editor) Lilac-buttons (editor) A. Utting (editor) J. Masterson (honorable mention: editor) L. Bonnell (honorable mention: editor) L. Wisely (contributor/archivist) M. King (contributor) Y. Zhao (contributor) N. Lévésque (contributor) M. Scriber (contributor) A. Hingston (contributor) G. Cunningham (contributor) J. Hill (contributor) L.Herbst (contributor) Ellie (contributor) L. Jensen (contributor, editor) M.Paskitti (contributor, transcriptionist) L. Rattray (Contributor) Miranda Bee (contributor) | Maeve (contributor) D. Robert Hamm E. S. Chacov (film historian, contributor, Apulian) J. W. (contributor) Lev Levinson A. Hoffert (contributor) T. Hui (contributor) L. Fabre (contributor) Veronika Bogacheva (contributor) iced tea (contributor) B.Evis (contributor) M. Cohen (contributor) MoonWolfOnline (contributor) C. A. Chinelatto (contributor) Arley (contributor) Mariana.R(editor) Basil Comeaux (contributor) | Nebula (contributor) Bananarose (contributor) A. Amber (contributor) Maddy (contributor) Elena R. (contributor) C. Epsgross (contributor) B. Freeman (contributor) S. Remskar (contributor) Stevie (Judaism proofreader) Keirridwen (contributor) A. Birch (Russian pronunciation, contributor) G. Sturtridge (Russian pronunciation) B. Campbell (contributor) Clover_14 (honorable mention: editor) Schoeny (contributor) Mye (contributor) Gonchpost (contributor) Edward N. B. (contributor) |
Name | Backstory | Relationships | Themes/misc. | Costumes |
Lo Straniero[2] / Goncharov[3](Robert de Niro) | Much of Goncharov’s past is shrouded in mystery. He and Andrey were initiated into the Russian mob as teenagers and became close friends despite differences of class and ethnicity. After the fall of the Soviet Union,[4] Goncharov leaves behind the discotheque he managed for the mob and moves with his wife, Katya, to the seemingly idyllic Naples. | Katya: Spouse Nastya: Adopted daughter Andrey: Rival/partner/love interest (implied) |
| Gold pocket watch, which he loses in Act 2.[5] The pocket watch was a wedding gift from Katya; it formerly belonged to her grandfather, Konstantin Kazimirovich Michailov. |
Andrey[6] “The Banker” Daddano(Harvey Keitel) |
| Mariella Daddano: Spouse Katerina: Half-sister Katya: Rival / love interest Goncharov: Rival/partner/love interest (implied) Ice Pick Joe: | Brown and cream checkered suit Eye patch covering the left eye during the latter half of film (though some scenes are inconsistent, showing it on his right eye). | |
(Yekaterina) Katya Goncharova[10] née Michailova(Cybill Shepherd) | Born into a wealthy family before being orphaned, Katya lived on the streets with her brother Valery for three years before falling in with the Russian mafia, training as a spy, and eventually marrying Goncharov. | Goncharov: Spouse Nastya: Adopted daughter Valery: Brother Sofia: Friend/love interest (implied) |
| Alexandrite ring[11] Red dress and scarf[12] |
Mario Ambrosini(Al Pacino) | A man with an air of deep tragedy and a gambling addiction, Mario Ambrosini is a small mafia boss from Camorra. Due to his deals with the Russian mob, he was the one who provided Goncharov with protection after he was forced to leave Russia.[13] | Ice Pick Joe: Henchman[14] Goncharov: Close friend; later betrays him |
| Slightly out-of-date suits with lots of patching (makes sense for his debt and stress level?) |
Valery Michailov(Gene Hackman) | Lived on the streets with Katya for years after being kicked out by their uncle after living as upper class before they were forced to live back under his roof. Both fell in with the mafia under their uncle’s influence, although Valery was initially more reluctant about doing so. Having to support himself and Katya coupled with his fear of not being able to fill his father’s shoes from a young age made him bitter and callous, though he does show affection to his loved ones. He leaves Russia to follow Katya to Italy and convinces her to leave her husband and come home with him.[15] Has a habit of putting affectionate adjectives in front of the names of people he hates. | Katya: Sister Luciana: Possible love interest Ice Pick Joe: Enemy |
| An heirloom from his mother |
Joseph “Ice Pick Joe” Morelli(John Cazale) | An American transplant to Naples, Joseph Morelli suffered a psychotic break and was institutionalized after the traumatic death of his older brother, Giorno. It is implied that he was heavily mistreated and scheduled to have a lobotomy before he escaped. He turned to a life of crime as all other doors were shut to him, and for fear of being re-institutionalized, leans into the role of ‘violent madman’ that the world has thrust upon him.[16] Known for making ice pick related puns; played somewhat as a comic relief character until the very end, where his tragic side resurfaces. Ice Pick Joe’s nickname comes from one specific event shortly after he joined Andrey’s crime ring. He was tasked with interrogating a high-ranking lieutenant who was accused of stealing and divulging information to a rival crime lord. After entering the interrogation room with nothing more than an ice pick, he extracted a confession out of the lieutenant after 15 minutes. What exactly he did to extract this confession is unclear, but it was enough to earn him the nickname of Ice Pick Joe.[17] He has an eye patch, so it’s ironic when he ice picks Andrey’s eye, and says “An eye for an eye”. | Mario: Boss Andrey: Brother figure / rival Giorno (deceased): Older brother Mariella Morelli: Spouse Paolo: Son[18] Patchka: Pet cat[19] Goncharov: Katya: |
| |
Sofia [Ambrosini][20](Sophia Loren)[21] | Abandoned as a child, Sofia was raised in an orphanage run by nuns.[22] Her non-Italian Jewish family moved to Naples in 1930. They sent a young Sofia to Assisi in 1943, to be cared for by the Poor Clares. Nazis had recently taken over Italy’s government. Sofia returned to Naples as an adult, unable to find her family.[23] While the film does not engage with her backstory in depth, it is possible that she lost her leg during one of the many riots due to economic instability after World War II. She claims to not be proficient in weaponry, but later proves that false.[24] It is implied at the end of the film that she has escaped the violence of Naples in Katya’s boat, which Joe’s son, Paolo, has stowed away in.[25] | Katya: Employer/friend/love interest (implied) Mario: (Implied) Long-lost brother |
| All-white tuxedo Green dress Waiter costume: Black vest, white button-down, and green scarf. Prosthetic right leg from an accident[27] |
Luglio Dell’Ammare[28](Marcello Mastroianni) | Luglio Dell’Ammare comes from a large family with twelve children total, all named after months in the year.[29] He makes multiple attempts on Goncharov’s life. It is uncertain whether he dies in the final showdown.[30] | Goncharov: Enemy Andrey: Crush | Catholic guilt | Azure rosary (round beads that taper at the ends with a rounded triangle shaped medal with St Michael on it - the blue for loyalty and to be ironic as it symbolizes trust and the St Michael because of his father’s fear of death) |
(Anastasia)Nastya Goncharova[31] | An Ophelia character archetype, Nastya represents the good in both of her parents. She dies at the end of Act I, sacrificing herself to save Katya. | Goncharov: Adopted father Katya: Adopted mother | Violinist/violist Blood thicker than water Contrasts the dark mood of other characters | |
Paolo Morelli (Joe Pesci) | Ice Pick Joe’s son. It’s implied by the plot that he is frightened of Joe and does not have a safe or stable homelife. At the end of the film, he escapes from a murder Katya commits by hiding on a boat in the harbor, which many believe to be Katya’s boat – the one Sofia is seen piloting from the harbor in the end credits. | Ice Pick Joe: Father Giorno: Uncle Mariella Morelli: Step-Mother |
| |
Felix Petrov[32] (William Smith) | In the book, Felix is an old friend of Goncharov’s. Additionally in the novel but excluded from the film: shown at the end to have adopted Patchka after the death of her previous caretaker, Joseph “Ice Pick Joe” Morelli. | Goncharov: Friend | ||
Mariella Daddano (Agostina Belli)[33] | Almost exists solely as an excuse for Goncharov to comfort Andrey after her death of influenza. | Andrey: Spouse Katya: Childhood friend | Parallel to Mariella Morelli[34] | Silver wedding ring, satin handkerchief (white with pale blue paisley, later seen on Andrey’s bedside table) |
(Mariette Hartley)[37] | Katerina’s mother is a Naples native, which provides an in for the identity Andrey forms to infiltrate the Naples mafia.She warns various characters over the course of the movie against the path they are currently on; all her warnings are ignored. | Andrey: Half-brother | Unheeded warnings: Cassandra archetype Inability to change things Family falling apart | |
Luciana | Mario’s wife; a Naples native, daughter of a formerly influential Italian politician. She falls in love and has an affair with Valery Michailov, leading to her death at the hands of Andrey Daddano. | Valery Michailov: Love interest (?) Mario Ambrosini: Husband Andrey: Killer | ||
Rybak[38] (David Proval) | Goncharov: Old business partner | Extremely money-minded | Very huge circular glasses and a funny little outfit | |
Amarro Fiamberti[39] | Amarro Fiamberti was the name of the first psychiatrist to ever perform a transorbital lobotomy. It was only due to his research that Walter Freeman was able to come up with the “ice pick” lobotomy procedure. Ice Pick Joe kills him by carefully stabbing him in the eye with his eponymous ice pick. | Cruel | ||
Ilya | Goncharov: Cousin (?) | |||
Theodore Campbell[40] (Eartha Kitt) | A minor character who aids Goncharov in the lawless world of Naples. | Goncharov: Ally for a price | Perseverance Love vs Luxury | |
Ioseph Vronsky[41] | Ex-KGB. He was exiled to the Siberian wilderness where he survived by hunting, but is now a pacifist. | Cycle of violence Toxic masculinity | Long beard Predominantly green color palette (love of nature) | |
(Actor unknown) | Abandoned as a kitten, Patchka survived by stealing until she was adopted by Ice Pick Joe. Patchka represents the potential to escape the cycle of violence for Ice Pick Joe, as he loves her andcares for her. Ice Pick Joe nicknamed his feline best friend "slush cat," after one of the few things an ice pick is unable to damage: slush.[44] After Ice Pick Joe’s death, he passes onto Goncharov the responsibility to take care of Patchka; who then gives the cat to Andrey. This differs from the novel, in which Goncharov gives the cat to Felix Petrov instead. | Goncharov: Holds the cat at one point, and is shown to have a tangential obsession with finding her. Ice Pick Joe: Owner and caretakerAndrey Daddano: Owner and caretaker (after death of IPJ, film) Felix Petrov: Owner and caretaker (after death of IPJ, novel) | Being a cat, fluffiness, Redemption Love Toxic Masculinity Escape from Cycle of Violence | |
Zoran Popović (Rade Šerbedžija)[45] | The only Yugoslav character in the movie; shows up for about 20 seconds. | His inclusion in the film is likely a reference to director Matteo JWHJ 0715’s youthful obsession with the Italian concession of Fiume to Yugoslavia in the aftermath of WWI.[46] | ||
Alexei Baranov | Alexei is a patron at a club the mafia runs that a young Goncharov works at. Goncharov invites him to come to the club. The Russian mob shoots him in cold blood when he witnesses them murdering a debtor in the backroom of the club on his way to the bathroom. The mob leaves Goncharov to mop Alexei’s blood as they leave the room as it pools at his feet. His death helps motivate Goncharov to leave Russia. Redacted in the first movie to be placed in the sequel. His last name means “Lamb”. | Friend of Goncharov | Violence Innocence/Naivety Homoeroticism | |
Volkov[47] | Higher level member of the Russian mafia. He initiated Goncharov into the mob and acts as his stand-in father figure. He also gives Goncharov an orange that Goncharov splits with Alexei, foreshadowing Alexei’s murder (and continuing the trend of scorese’s oranges of death). He was in the room where Alexei was shot. Goncharov acts more guarded and “tougher” in Volkov’s presence as a result. Volkov’s name means “Wolf.” | Past Paternal figure of Goncharov | Cycle of violence Fatherhood Toxic Masculinity Loss of innocence | |
Ernesto[48] | Primary character trait is following Goncharov around “like a tiny duckling.” | Goncharov: Father figure? | Models of masculinity Fatherlessness | |
Sergey[49] | Dies in the first 5 minutes, but is characterized well. | The inevitability of death | ||
Mariella Morelli (Ingrid Bergman) | Mariella Morelli (often confused with Mariella Daddano) moved to Naples to be with her family after her husband, Joseph Morelli, was institutionalized. She occasionally provides Goncharov with words of wisdom, prophetic musings, or jaded observations. She is killed before Joseph can notify her of his presence, which only strengthens Joseph’s resentment of society, as the systemic violence that he has suffered mirrors the senseless violence that takes Mariella’s life. | Joseph “Ice Pick Joe” Morelli: Husband Paolo: Step-son | Cycle of violence March of time Casualties, Price of violence Curse of Cassandra | Reddish Orange Sweater (death scene) |
Dancer #1[50] | ||||
Dancer #2 (Lynda Carter)[51] | ||||
Fruit Stand Owner (Martin Scorsese cameo) | Just some poor guy who has to witness the infamous Apple Scene.[52] | Fruit | In his 20s Lanky Wears an apron | |
Unnamed Neapolitan Baker[53] (Mario Merola) | Runs/works at a bakery in Naples that Andrey has clearly been in prior to the film. Sofia sells him out, paralleling how Andrey sells Ice Pick Joe out later in the film. | Allows Andrey to hide in the back room of the bakery because Andrey smiles at him. | Betrayal | Cream-colored apron lightly dusted with flour, huge chef’s hat. |
Silk Merchant[54] | Runs the silk shop where Katya gets her scarf. It’s implied she killed her husband and took over the shop and opium den. | Acts as an inspiration/foreshadowing for Katya | Cycle of violence Escaping Poverty/social class Time/Death | Silk qipao Lotus shoes (not on her, but prominently in front of her) |
Nicolai “Herb” Fyodorovsky[55][56] (Tony Shalhoub) | Nicolai was a childhood best friend of Andrey but they had a falling out after a failed territory takeover in which Nicolai provided information without properly vetting it. Providing this flawed information resulted in Nicolai being exiled from the crime syndicate that Andrey and Goncharov ran with. When Andrey returns to Naples, Herb is the first to read him the riot act for his failures. [57] | Goncharov: Former associate Andrey: Former childhood best friend/former associate | Betrayal Toxic masculinity | Ruffled secondhand shirt and suit trousers, stained brown tie |
Winter comes to Naples as Goncharov, Katya, and Andrey flee the Soviet Union and make their way south to what they hope will be a better and safer life. But Goncharov's past cannot be left behind and his time is limited. Filled with romance, double-crossing, clocks, pining glances, and betrayal, Goncharov is the only mafia movie you'll ever need to see![58]
Act I | ||||
Scene | Characters | Events | Objects/Themes | Locations |
Opening Credits[59] | Katya | Birds’ eye view slowly zooms in on a figure crossing in front of the Church of the Resurrection — aka the Cathedral of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in Leningrad — her long red scarf trailing out over the dirty snow.[60] | Vengeance Blood/ trailing blood in her wake | Leningrad, Church of the Resurrection |
Opening scene | Goncharov | Goncharov's silhouette slowly emerges from behind the Kremlin walls. | Inescapable past | Kremlin, Moscow |
First Contact | Goncharov, Andrey, Ilya | Goncharov heads to a train station. When he finds a compartment with Ilya, he sees Andrey looking at his watch and approaches him despite his business with Ilya—trying to stop time for Andrey.[61] | Watch (time) | Plaza Train |
Parlor[62] | Katya, Goncharov, Andrey | Goncharov and Andrey discuss the days to come, Katya plays piano in the next room (Katya’s Theme) to drown out their voices, so she can feign ignorance if questioned by the police. Goncharov comments that the time on the grandfather clock is a few minutes slow, which Andrey uses as an example to point out to Goncharov his very own fatal flaw: his overconfidence in his own senses above reason.[63] At the end of the conversation, they shake hands, Andrey leaves, and Goncharov is distraught. | Grandfather clock (time) Cigarettes/smoking “Heavy-cast iron ring” | Andrey’s parlor |
Shabbat | Sofia | Sofia lights two candlesticks on a Friday evening.[64] The candles are for Shabbat, the weekly day of rest in Judaism. She waves both hands over her eyes and says a blessing over the candles. Sofia has her dinner. Red light from the sunset is shown over the white candles. | Peacock candlesticks Two candles Small clock beside candlesticks reading 4:26 (time) Sunset on candles (lighting, color, time passing) | Sofia’s kitchen |
The Fruit Stand[65] | Katya, Sofia | As they walk arm-in-arm through a market, Katya hands Sofia an apple.[66] Sofia in turn gives her a pomegranate and they discuss themes of Eve and Persephone. | Apples Purity/Sin Homoerotiscm Religion/Faith | Marketplace |
Poker | Katya, Sofia, Andrey, Goncharov, Valery, Luglio | Katya picks up Goncharov’s cigar and smokes it; Sofia sits on Katya’s lap, there is an iconic smoke exhale shot.[67] Sofia wants to keep playing, but Katya suggests that Sofia fold their shared hand. It is strongly suggested that Goncharov and Katya are cheating. Valery watches, having just arrived in Naples. | Cigarettes/smoking Wedding ring (Sofia’s?)[68] Gambling Crystal glasses of vodka (transparency/clarity in lies) | |
The Pearls[69] | Katya, Sofia | Katya invites Sofia to dinner at the prestigious Les Poissons. Sofia reluctantly agrees, feeling pressured by Katya, though she has no appropriate clothing. Katya buys her an evening dress, then gives Sofia her own pearl necklace. | Class issues | |
Anchovies[70] | Andrey, Goncharov, Katya, Sofia | This single-take is well known for its unrehearsed feel. Goncharov and Andrey are noticeably flustered as Katya and Sofia arrive 20 minutes late to the restaurant. The entire dinner is riddled with tension between the four as the shadow of forbidden love and class issues looms over the table. Andrey and Sofia find some solidarity with one another as outsiders to Goncharov and Katya’s world. “The hands of time continue to tick, even as the heart ceases to beat.”[71] | Homoeroticism™ Class issues Food Fish, overfishing and marine ecology (novella discusses this point in greater detail) | Les Poissons[72] |
Confrontation | Valery, Katya | Valery confronts Katya to ask her to leave Goncharov and go back to Russia with him. | ||
Beer Bottles | Paolo, Ice Pick Joe | Death Alcohol | ||
Dressing for Dinner | Katya, Andrey | Katya and Andrey are shown dressing up with cuts that give each of the things they wear the same importance as survival items, from Katya's high heels to Andrey's dagger.[73] While brief, this scene serves to highlight the contrast between the two characters and introduce the central conflict between Katya, Andrey, and Goncharov. | Weapons Lipstick/Cigarette | Two dressing rooms/bedrooms |
Dinner[74] | Goncharov, Sofia, Mario, Andrey | Sofia is dressed as a waiter.[75][76] Goncharov and mobsters insist on bringing their own vodka, a moment of rare comic relief, but also revealing Goncharov’s past in Russia. Resulted in the iconic line “And one for the table.” proving Mario knows of Goncharov’s Russian ties. Goncharov shares a tense meal and drink with Andrey and Mario in attendance. Goncharov conspicuously does not eat with/around Katya in this scene. In the background, during a staredown between Goncharov and Andrey, Sofia bites a person’s ear off.[77] | Inescapable past Food unholy communion | |
Act II | ||||
Father Gianni’s Sermon / The Chapel[78] | Katya, Sofia, Goncharov | At Mass,[79] Katya is unsettled by the topic of Father Gianni’s sermon: resisting earthly temptations and preparing for glories to come. Sofia gets up to leave in the middle of the sermon, and whispers “Take your glories where you may,” as she passes Katya, who then follows her. Goncharov watches them leave, looking conflicted, but does nothing. | Church bells/Clock ticking (time) Wedding ring | A church |
Boat | Katya, Sofia, Goncharov | Sofia and Katya wrestle on a boat. Iconic shot of the two heads nearly close enough to kiss. Katya clearly knows she’s going to lose and says “Sof, you know this isn’t how our time ends.” Sofia just smiles at her and then throws her overboard. Sofia holds Katya’s head underwater. Katya’s hand still grips the side of the boat even as she stops fighting. We get a close up of her hand and her watch is still ticking, juxtaposing her heartbeat slowing with the constant metronome of her watch. Katya almost drowns.[80] | Death Water Violence Time | Boat in river |
Apples | Andrey, Goncharov, The fruit stand guy | Goncharov takes Andrey to the market and offers him an apple alongside a proposal of some kind, indicative of the devil offering Eve the forbidden fruit. Warped mirror of the Fruit Stand scene with Katya and Sofia.[81] | Living as a foreigner, an outsider Knowledge of good and evil - awareness of their situation/how to break out of the cycle of violence (the apple was offered but not eaten) Temptation Homoeroticism | Marketplace |
Shootout in Pompeii | Mario, Goncharov | A doomed attempt by Mario to destroy Goncharov, in which he also destroys a huge chunk of the region's history. Goncharov shoots at Mario and hits the latter’s eye. Mario swears and warns about the “treason from within.” Scene takes place in the theater arena of Pompeii. The fight spills out onto the Via Stabiana, Goncharov leaves through the Stabiana gate into the necropolis, once again foreshadowing his death. | Destructive nature of Nationalism Betrayal | Pompeii - Theatre Area/Via Stabiana |
Gun[82] | Katya | Katya finds a gun on her nightstand after being awoken from a gunshot. She touches the gun and realizes that it is still hot. | Katya’s revolver Violence | |
Brighton Beach Banya / Bathhouse Fight | Goncharov, Rybak | Goncharov and Rybak play cards in the bathhouse steam room. Goncharov has Ilya's stiletto in his towel, trying to figure out if this is a hit. Rybak is similarly suspicious of Goncharov; we do not know if he is equally armed. | Betrayal Gambling | Bathhouse steam room |
The Clocktower/The Church Duel[83] | Goncharov, Andrey | Goncharov is beginning to question everything and everyone. He confronts Andrey at the clock tower, its large hands ticking away, filling the silence with each pause they take. Goncharov points his gun at Andrey, he’s shaking and the camera turns to Andrey, who simply lights his cigarette. They don’t speak, they let the clock speak for them. Goncharov shoots the gun and Andrey doesn’t even flinch, even as no bullet makes contact with him. Goncharov has shot the clock tower. Andrey takes a puff of his cigarette and simply says, “Time is something you can’t stop, Goncharov.” | Time Betrayal | Piazza Clocktower |
Joe murders Amarro[84] | Ice Pick Joe, Amarro | The scene is played out slowly. Joe ties Amarro to a chair before almost carefully putting the pick through his eye socket. (Note: Amarro Fiamberti was the name of the first psychiatrist to ever perform a transorbital lobotomy. It was only due to his research that Walter Freeman was able to come up with the “ice pick” lobotomy procedure.) | Destruction of identity through violence Vengeance | Amarro’s home |
Ice Pick Joe’s Death[85] | Ice Pick Joe, Valery | Ice Pick Joe claims to have killed Luciana, taking the fall for Andrey in a futile attempt to stop the cycle of violence. He is then brutally murdered with his own ice pick by Valery Michaelov; Joe kneels and allows Valery to bash him through the skull, ultimately dying from the very thing he spent his life running from. | Cycles of violence Betrayal Sacrifice | The steps of the Cathedral[86] |
Act III | ||||
Valery’s Death | Katya, Valery | At three in the morning, Valery is smoking by the docks. Katya confronts him about his murder of Joe, and eventually shoots him, leaving his dead body on the ground. | Cyclical nature of violence Wedding/engagement ring Katya’s white coat Church bells (possible continuation of clock theme) Cigarettes/smoking | Naples, somewhere near the coast |
Sofia and Katya’s Goodbye | Katya, Sofia | Katya and Sofia share a cigarette, Katya is sharpening a knife. She states her intention to kill Paolo, believing him responsible for Amarro’s death, and then herself, thereby ending the cycle of violence. Sofia tries to dissuade her, and Katya pauses, but ultimately tells her to get out. Sofia states that if she is going to be stabbed she wants to feel every second of it. Katya laughs and drops the knife and it clatters to the floor before she kisses Sofia on the cheek goodbye.[87] | Homoeroticism Link between love and death | Goncharov’s office |
Car chase[88] | Goncharov, Andrey, chauffeur. | Goncharov and Andrey are being driven to Joe's funeral and end up in a car chase. The chase is revealed to be in pursuit of a briefcase in the trunk, which is filled with the unseeded bounty on Icepick Joe’s head. [89] This confirms Goncharov’s suspicion that Andrey betrayed him (and is thus partially to blame for Ice Pick Joe’s death). | Motor Vehicles™ Clocktower Betrayal Vengeance | Streets of Naples |
Palace dance[90] | Goncharov, Katya | Katya and Goncharov share one final dance near the end of the film. Many have interpreted this to be a dream sequence due to the surrealist nature of the set, which was heavily inspired by Salvador Dalí’s famous “The Persistence of Memory” painting. | Finality Time/Clocks | |
Ice Pick Joe’s Funeral | Paolo, Mario, Sofia, Katya, more | At the funeral there are many references to the color yellow (such as the pale lemon coloured pall) that ties to the hints of yellow seen in scenes with Ice Pick Joe referencing his death. The priest delivers a speech about how murder is a sin and only perpetuates more murder. A pan across Sofia and Katya’s faces makes it clear how differently they are taking this sermon. | Self-fulfilling prophecy Yellow- often connected to mental health such as in the novella “yellow wallpaper” | Church, outside |
The Bridge[91] | Goncharov, Katya | Katya and Goncharov share their last cigarette before Goncharov leaves to face the music. Katya stares at a seagull as it flies off into the free, open sky. The clock tower chimes in the background[92] | Cigarettes/smoking Katya’s gloves (isolation) Katya’s wristwatch (time) Duty | A bridge |
Ballroom dance[93] | Goncharov, Katya, Andrey, his partner, many other dancers | Goncharov and Andrey are in-sync even though they aren’t dancing together, while Katya and Goncharov are completely out-of-sync despite actually dancing together. When viewed from above, all the dancing pairs form the shape of the clock, with Goncharov and Katya being the minute hand and Andrey and his partner being the hour. Sharing A Dance plays. This parallels “Palace Dance” by showing the reality it mimics. In the dream, Goncharov and Katya seem happy dancing together, but in reality, their dancing is discordant and bitter.[94] | Running out of time | Ballroom |
Coat delivery[95] | Katya, Andrey, “housemaid” (Sofia?) | After Goncharov leaves, Andrey delivers a package to Katya. She tells him that Goncharov, “left his watch in the study.” | Goncharov’s wristwatch (time) | Cathedral on the plaza The Goncharov house The dacha “A lonely Russian beach” |
Katya’s plot against Paolo | Katya, Paolo | Katya sends a mysterious message to Paolo. They meet at a restaurant in front of the harbor, Katya drinking a glass of vodka as she greets him. She ensures Paolo didn’t reveal to anyone where he was going after handing him a glass. She then stabs Paolo in the side when he tries to get up, pushes him to the floor, grabs her scarf and walks off, subsequently setting the restaurant on fire and unaware that Paolo has stumbled out of the back of the restaurant and towards the boats in the dock. | ||
The Dock[96] | Katya | Katya sits on the docks, near having just faked her death, smoking a cigarette and loosely holding the watch. It falls into the water, sinking to the bottom and the scene cuts away. | Death Broken Cycles Time Finality | Darkness, the only light comes from street lamps leading up to the dock and the moonlight. Stars reflect in the water. |
Betrayal | Katya, Andrey, Goncharov | Goncharov sits next to Katya on the dock as she cradles him. She tells him how, though she loves him, they are unsafe with them both being fiery personalities and how if both time and blood have been spilled, he can topple over the edge. She ends by wishing him sweet dreams in another life. Andrey shoots Goncharov, who simply cannot react to the gun pointed at his chest by the one he knows he truly loves.[97] He tells Katya off for giving up on Goncharov and refusing to love him enough to end things. Katya asks him if he’s going to send her to Goncharov now to make her apologize. He lowers the gun for a moment, before raising it again slightly and talking about how he was taught to not hurt a woman, but he was also taught to survive. Katya looks him over for a moment before pulling her own gun and shooting Andrey in one move. She delivers her final line while leaving.[98] In an alternate cut of the movie, Goncharov’s death is in his office, where he accepts that Andrey is here to kill him. (See also the quotes page) | Death Time Clock Star crossed lovers Homoeroticism Betrayal | Docks |
Finale[99] | Goncharov, Andrey[100] | As Goncharov lies dying, he remembers a night-time meeting between himself and Andrey, a long time ago, and a single tear appears on his cheek.[101]A shot of the two’s night-time meeting. The moon is shining in the background, its craters curiously, faintly dipped – forming general smattered bearings of the face of a clock. Smooth transition from said scene to current death one, the transition focuses on the moon as it morphs into the light in Goncharov’s eye(s). He is staring blankly at a shattered mirror close by, his fragmented reflection rendered unrecognizable.[102] The light goes out of his eyes as he breathes his last. The broken clock that, throughout the entire film, has remained at 6 o’clock (the time of Goncharov’s death) moves for the first and last time. | Cycles of violence Time Identity, unbecoming, broken mirror | The same bridge as “The Bridge” scene |
Closing Credits | Sofia, Paolo | After the iconic murder plot by Katya, Paolo escapes the attempt and hides in the back of a boat, under some sheeting. As the credits roll, Sofia strides out alone in the fading light, and climbs into Katya’s boat. The sheeting in the back moves, implying Paolo is in the same boat, suggesting that the two innocents are somehow able to escape the tragic bloodshed of the events of the film, and leave it behind them, starting somewhere new…or perhaps, starting the cycles of tragedy anew somewhere else.[103] | Cycles of violence | Porto di Napoli Naples |
Scene | Characters | Summary | Themes/Notes | Locations |
Missing Scene (non-canonical)[105] | Katya, Goncharov. | “The scene we never saw between Goncharov and Katya, after Joe's betrayal but before the bloodbath. Goncharov is working through the collapse of his sense of self, Katya doesn't know how to tell him who to be. It all ends in pain, as is canon.” | Betrayal Glass ballerina (with a “scar” from when Goncharov glued her leg back on) Displacement; loss of identity | |
The Ballroom / Andrey’s Betrayal[106] | ||||
The Last Job | Ice Pick Joe, Andrey | Ice Pick Joe is sent after Goncharov (it is unclear who sent him, probably Luglio), and Andrey goes with him, desperately wondering which he’ll choose: let Ice Pick Joe kill Goncharov or save him. | ||
Church / Ice Pick Joe’s Death[107] | Ice Pick Joe, Goncharov, Katya[108], Valery, Mario | Goncharov and company escape a trap set by the Naples mafia and take shelter in a church. Joe was shot during the escape and is badly wounded.[109] Despite their best efforts, he dies just before dawn. | Bible (Catholicism) Clock (time) Boat (for escaping) | Church Lake behind the church |
The Museum Scene | Goncharov, Andrey | Presumably takes place near the beginning of the film. Andrey and Goncharov visit the National Archaeological Museum of Naples together, and Andrey attempts to convince Goncharov to become more Italian and to be proud of the new country that he lives in. A clock is shown as Goncharov exits through the main staircase alone. | Time Faith Legacy - loss of self | National Archaeological Museum of Naples |
Kiss Scene[110] | Katya, Sofia | Presumably taking place after her near-death experience during the boat scene–in Goncharov’s absence, Katya hints at her eventual betrayal of Goncharov, which is emphasized by the (painfully heterosexual) kiss she then shares with Sofia. | Water (change, flow, baptism) Forbidden desires (in parallel with the temptation in The Fruit Stand) Betrayal Death | Docks |
The Bridge Parallel Scene or ‘The Briefcase’ From 1974 private screening release[111] | Goncharov, Andrey | Deleted cut made originally to parallel the Katya bridge confrontation. Goncharov has acquired a briefcase of money said to be the bounty on Icepick Joe, Andrey fires a shot at the briefcase, and it is revealed to be filled with counterfeit Italian lira. | Betrayal, change of narrative. | The Bridge |
The casino scene[112] | No details found yet to rule on canon/non canonicity. Supposedly a “classic.” | The Casino, supposedly | ||
The Bank Scene | Andrey, Goncharov | Andrey and Goncharov are talking. Andrey says he could bring down all of them so easily with their bank records, blah blah blah, and Goncharov says that Andrey would never and that he trusts him unquestioningly in this. | Irony, Betrayal, Trust | Andrey’s office at the bank. |
The Goncharov and Andrey cigarette scene[113] | Andrey, Goncharov | While standing and talking in the rain, Goncharov lights Andrey’s cigarette with his own (with great affection). The camera focuses on Goncharov’s fingers as they brush Andrey’s wrist, and there is a beat during which Goncharov cups his hand around Andrey’s (holding the cigarette), shielding it from the rain. It is unclear whether or not Andrey is blushing when the camera raises to him in the dim light. This gesture mirrors an earlier scene, in which Goncharov does the same to Katya on the very beginning of their relationship, when they both still had some hope for it, that it could grow to feel natural and never turn bitter. However, in this earlier scene, Katya’s cigarette flutters and dies. The two are glimpsed from behind the umbrella laughing quietly at this, and Katya stamps the cigarette out with her heel while Goncharov takes the umbrella from her, handling it awkwardly, and pulls out a lighter from his coat. This rare moment of light-heartedness and humor is cast in a new light in comparison to the scene that comes later in the film. It seems that the director wanted the more observant watcher to connect the dots, and realize that Goncharov might have the same hopes for Andrey. However, all too soon the relentless rain causes both the cigarettes to go out, “foreshadowing how this desire will ruin them both.” (Possibly took place between the Bridge and the Ballroom Scene?) | Desire, longing Homoromanticism/homoeroticism The dissolution of hope Foreshadowing the downfall According to some, it also underlines their humanity as it reminds the watchers that they are both a bit stupid | Somewhere outside without a roof -> it rains |
The Prologue; Explaining the history | Narrator | Red text is shown over a black background: | Cut due to pacing reasons for the theatrical release. | |
The wedding scene | Katya, Goncharov | The wedding of Katya and Goncharov. It's a very rich person wedding and the flowers are beautiful. The flowers are white and yellow.[114] | Jealousy and betrayal |
Moved to a new document. Click the above link for access.
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Written and released during the Cold War, Goncharov offers a unique perspective on the aftermath of war and conflict. Told with vivid, flawed characters, it creates a harrowing cautionary tale on the cycle of violence and its inevitable conclusion.
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Moved to a new document. Click the above link for access.
Moved to a new document. Click the above link for access. You can also find scenes in the #scenes channel of the official Discord server.
Moved to a new document. Click the above link for access.
Returning to theaters for a limited time (by @huffy-the-bicycle-slayer here)
40th Anniversary Remaster (by @jpegchacek here)
50th Anniversary Remake (by @weijiangling here)
-Starring Adam Driver, Florence Pugh, Misha Collins
Remastered & Restored in 4k (by @dollopheadsandclotpoles here)
Francine Rubek. Violent Delights, Violent Ends: On Queer Readings of Masculine Tragedy (2003, Oxford University Press)
Francine Rubek and Samson Jian. Under the Queer Gaze (2014, Palgrave Macmillan)
Francine Rubek. ‘The greatest Mafia movie ever made’: Scorsese’s Goncharov (1973).
Maria Stiller. Unsex Me Here: De-gendering, Guilt, and Lust in Scheming Women (1994)
Morgan Russo. The Body Fascistic: Eroticism, Leather, and Desire in the Post-war Imagination (2011, Tlön Press)
Holly McPhearson. “Failures of the Imagination: Absent Lesbians and Heterosexual Prisons in Scorseses Goncharov.“ Journal of Lesbian Studies, vol. 24, no. 1, 2020, pp. 33-49.
Alex Kingsley. “Goncharov and the Rise of Narrative Communism” (2022, Medium)
GrinningAphotic. “The Endurance of Goncharov (1973): A Film Reflection.” (2022, Tumblr).
Norma Larson in Family Ties: Essays on the Mafia in Film, 1993
Goncharov. “Transitions, Names, and Other Things Left by the Wayside: The Passage of Time in Goncharov.” (2022, Tumblr)
Tomas JWHJ 0715. What a Movie It Was: My Father and the Creation of Goncharov (1999, Random House)
Cybill Shepherd. Becoming Katya Goncharova (2018, HarperCollins) (this link is broken; I suspect the person changed their URL)
Mon-chert on the significance of pet names in Goncharov.
Sebs-anxiety-and-insanity bloopers.
Lore related to the movie release: https://www.tumblr.com/galaxygolfergirl/701704580718821376/
Official movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClBO8cLS6ak
20th Anniversary Film Trailer (Remastered Version): https://youtu.be/mH86Fuan594
Theatrical Trailer:
Criterion Collection Trailer:
Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater with Lynda Carter
Influence of the Soviet on USSR culture: https://vigilantsycamore.tumblr.com/post/701614642888425472/pisses-me-off-when-people-say-why-is-it-spelled
The film’s pronunciation of Goncharov /ˈɡɒntʃərɒf/ does not align with the Russian pronunciation.[131] Гончаров (Goncharov) [ɡənʲtɕɪˈrof] transliterated into Roman letters is Gan-cha-ROFF.[132]
Key differences in pronunciation:
1. Word stress is on the final syllable
2. Unstressed “о” in Russian is pronounced like an Englishd “а”
3. The middle syllable is pronounced between an “a” and an “i”. In some dialects, this is similar to the vowel sound in “it”, in others it sounds similar to the “a” in “apple”. (The IPA example uses an “i” sound.)
4. At the end of a word, voiced consonants like "в" (English "v") become their voiceless variant "ф" (English “f”).
Katya (Катя) is the diminutive of the name Yekaterina (Екатерина), the Russian form of the English name Catherine. Therefore those who use Katya, rather than Yekaterina, are friends, close acquaintances or purposely shorten her name for diminutive purposes.
Female members of the Goncharov family have the surname Goncharova (Гончарова), hence Katya’s known name is Yekaterina Goncharova. Her surname is pronounced Gan-cha-ROV-a.[133]
Key differences between pronunciation of Goncharov and Goncharova:
1. Word stress is on the third syllable
2. The letter “в” (v) is voiced because it is not the final letter
Assuming Katya is Valery’s biological sister, her maiden name would have been Michailova (Михайлова).
All Russians have a patronymic - a middle name based on their father’s first name. Goncharov’s and Katya’s patronymics are unknown.
Filming for Goncharov was delayed for a week due to an accident during the filming of the car chase scene. Many of the actors included in that scene suffered from whiplash.
In the director’s cut, there is a scene in which Alessandro the cop looks over Goncharov’s file, revealing that “Goncharov” is an alias. The file is labeled “Vladimir Ivanovich.” This is never addressed, and the file is only shown for a few frames.
Though he did not appear in the credits, Scorsese played the fruit vendor in the apple scene.
According to some sources, the original story concept was written by the Czech playwright and polymath Jára Cimrman in the late 1800s, and the name Matteo JWHJ 0517 is a pseudonym of his grandson Matouš Cimrman who rediscovered the original manuscript and used it as inspiration for the film.
In a 2010 interview with Empire Magazine, Steven Spielberg said that this is his own personal favorite Scorcese movie.
Paramount, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox, none of them greenlit the film. It was rumored that they weren’t aware of its existence as Scorsese was very secretive about it.out.
Scorsese initially wrote the script with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind. However, Leo wouldn’t be born until 1974. So, Scorsese went ahead with his second choice, Robert DeNiro. [LMAO]
The character of Felix Petrov was written into the original script, one of his more notable appearances being during the market scene between Andrey and Goncharov. Felix recognizes Goncharov and, “approaches him jovially, accidentally shattering the intimate moment” between him and Andrey. His body language once he realizes this makes the homoerotic tension between Goncharov and Andrey almost comically obvious. But this humor was cut from the storyboards before filming began due to concerns from those financing production and casting difficulties. Scorcese allegedly brought several actors in for the role during preliminary character studies, before discovering that de Niro “had unresolved social conflicts' ' with so many of them that he cut the role. Scorcese stated in a 1974 interview that he was also pressured into the choice by financiers and crew members, who released their own statement in response claiming that “the racket produced during fights between de Niro and whoever happened to be playing Felix that day was indescribable and a disgrace to everyone unfortunate enough to be working that day”.
The Orson Welles 1941 film Citizen Kane had a significant influence on Scorsese and Matteo JWHJ 0517’s work, in addition to other films set in Naples such as Farewell, My Beautiful Naples (1917 - silent film, and the 1946 remake).
Sofia’s prosthetic (without stockings to cover it) is only shown a few times because the technology and special effects of the time weren’t convincing enough.
Martin Scorsese has mentioned in an interview that the wristwatch (and the general clock motif present throughout the film) is based on a really funny watch he has that looks like a guy’s legs are pointing at the different numbers in reference to Monty Python’s “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch. Scorsese in fact makes a point of mentioning this in nearly every interview, regardless of whether the topic of the interview is Goncharov (1973) or some other topic.
Funding for the film ran out two-thirds of the way through production only to be rescued in the nick of time by five former mafiosi, although the true names of the men are lost to history. They had been approached by one of the producers during pre-production while the producer was in Mexico during a yearly trip to attend Aniversario de EMLL and learn through a few connections that five of the masked wrestlers employed by EMLL had fled Italy and the horror of organized crime. The men had chosen Mexico because Spanish was fairly easy to pick up for native Italian speakers, it was close to the USA, and they feared that Spain wasn’t far enough to protect them. While the men did not agree to have anything to do with the production, they wished them well and kept in touch with the producer. When funding ran out, the masked wrestlers offered to help. One rule: any credit go to them under pseudonyms. In a gesture of gratitude the production offered walk-on roles, but this fell through as the wrestlers never appeared unmasked. They eventually appear as voice-over. Who they are has never been resolved as a snafu with the credit sequencing led them to be credited as best boys and key grips. This story is told in full in the journal Matteo JWHJ0517 kept during production and gave to the local library of his hometown.
Pablo Picasso has a cameo and was excited to watch the film, but passed away early that year.
The Dutch movie committee, known for banning movies they deemed unfit for viewership in the Netherlands, banned scenes from Goncharov during the first 10 or so viewings of the movies. This occurred in 1974, after which it was entirely banned. Although it was unbanned in later years, it was never shown in Dutch cinemas after these first 10 viewings again. Most of the scenes that were deleted were for the extramarital romantic or sexual relationships shown or scenes of child harm/death that were deemed unnecessary for the furthering of the plot (scenes such as Ice Pick Joe's backstory, for example).
The homosexual chemistry between the protagonists was so revolutionary it is rumored that it contributed to the American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders, the DSM-II. Because of this, the movie didn't actually reach the wanted 3 hour mark and scenes that were cut from the American viewings of the movie were added, such as the infamous billiard scene.
During the infamous boat scene, one of the crew members drowned. This was covered up until after the release.
An interview with Italian actress Agostina Belli revealed that the studio wanted more Italian actresses and that there might be more unknown scenes.
Scorsese got the permission of a civilian in Naples to film his dog snarling at Goncharov and Katya. Several weeks after production had finished, it was revealed that the dog was euthanized and had tested positive for rabies. The dog did not scratch or bite any cast or crew members and Scorsese reportedly “absolutely [does] not” regret casting the aggressive dog[134]
It is speculated that Goncahrov became a lost film until 2006 due to a branch of the Italian mafia tracking the distribution to ensure the destruction of all possible reels.[135]
Letter barely seen at the second to last scene signed by “Danilo Gavrilo” in Goncharov’s home, anybody got anything on that? Who the FUCK is Danilo Gavrilo, how is he connected to Goncharov, and why did he send him a letter? Is he another lover ?
Tumblr has gaslighted us all and I am loving it, keep going guys
Hey how has everyone been pronouncing Goncharov btw
Like’ gone cha row’. I had no idea holy shit
like conch a rov <- probably wrong . But with a g
Yeah same
Oh, dude i’ve been reading it gone-cha-off this whole time. Oops. I keep like chewing the names pronunciation in my mouth and despite my best efforts, it never gets better. I have never brutalized or butchered a pronuciation this badly before.
Nvm i forgor how to transcribe but yes it is simialr to gone-chaw-rov. Pronounce almost exactly as you read it
gf of the russian. she says kinda "gun cha rov" imo
Exactly thank yu sweaty
I've been saying it like gɑnʧɑːrɔːv
I made a post about how they ‘got it wrong’ in the movie: https://schyrsivochter.tumblr.com/post/701550101530836992
I’ve added something in the trivia section about name pronunciations! Hope this helps! 🙂 (I’ve spent more time editing that section than on my actual Russian university work over the last two days. This fandom is so much more fun)
I believe according to this document it´s Andrei in the book and Andrey in the movie, although changed to Andrey on later posters :)
Hey Ice Pick Joe made an allusion to a mafia boss( owning a gay bar in La right?
I love all of you people
So guys when is this getting released
Hi. Random person here. Just wanted to say you guys are really cool. Keep it up!i love you
Wow you guys are insane. Love that for you though <3
Goncharov remake confirmed by tumblr users?!?!? (Not before goncharov the musical i hope) < this (it would be a great rock opera)
Wait, they’re making a remake!?!?
Man Hollywood and their remakes. It won't beat the original.
^^^Exactly!
Yall watching this go down is making me want to make a giant storyboard for like. The entire freakin film. Or at least make my own composition to add to the soundtrack loll
There was already a sorta-sequel back in like 1979 but it flopped like hell. Sucked ass fr :(
Waiting for the day someone actually edits all this into a feature length film
i’d love to do a Goncharov (2023) remake with whoever’s willing to! could be super fun 🤷♀️
I would love that
I hope they re-release this movie in theaters for the anniversary!!!!
Yass
I barely know anything about the lore despite reading the whole doc but my brain decided andrey is my new blorbo
Meh. Andrey is more of a plinko to me.
This is kinda not important but i just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that MARTIN SCORSESE HAS SEEN THE WHOLE THING AND HE CONFIRMED THE MOVIE’S EXISTENCE!! WHY WOULD HE NEED TO COMFIRM THE MOVIE’S EXISTANCE WE’VE ALL SEEN IT ??
I’d ask y’all about your shoelaces, but it seems a bit late for that, haha.
Add more sapphics please?????????????????????????????????????/ lesbians <3
I second this 👆 and also you all are amazing and incredibly dedicated. I can’t think of anymore cool lore to contribute myself but awesome job till now I am super invested
Sofia and Katya are lesbians and in love!! -Me, a lesbian
I was thinking that Valery brough a sniper
This is a historical moment.
Bit late but. I am INVESTED. It now exists as a pseudo film in a quantum state, where every detail is there but the movie is fuzzy. Gonna try to gaslight people into watching it for family movie night.
this is brilliant. i’m so invested. truly the mafia movie of all time.
The fucking fact that you mfs made a whole analysis on this joke really impresses me. Hell this may turn out real one day since we have a whole plan on how the movie goes. Good shit whoever started this in the first place. I’m really looking forward to how this turns out in the future. :D
My favorite part is when he said its gonching time and gonched all over those guys
guys. y’all are INSANE and i love you all sm. tbh i’m very very tempted to write goncharov into an actual novel now.
Lol, imagine if they actually make this into a film. Well scorsese is away of the existance of the best movie (n)ever made so :)))
Honestly there’s enough stuff here for an amazing irl movie!! This is brilliant-!
Someone should definitely make this into a real movie/novel.
I have no idea what this is; i just stumbled upon it and don’t have the attention span to read all of it. But, uh, have… fun???
If a movie isn’t made there will certainly be a movie made about the movie being made like how they did that movie about “The Room.” We’re watching cinematic history unwrap in real time, folks (also second the not having an attention span to read it all, but I skimmed the plot points)
Y’all this is actually insane. Idk how this happened but i am HERE for it
can’t wait for the 50th anniversary next year holy shit ur right
nah cause i got woken up at seven in the morning by my brain coming up with a whole ass script for a post-death scene i can’t believe i have brain rot for a nonexistent movie
Goncharov isnt real?
Yes it is ???? its the best movie of the 70s and best mafia movie of all time
i reeeeaaalllly wanna make goncharov into a mini movie it would so sick.
i just discovered this whole collective gaslighting thing and i have to say, bravo to everyone who has made contributions to the gonchalore. this is utterly fucking wonderful.
Historians are gonna find this shit and be so frikin confused
This was so entertaining to learn about and read. Thanks for this <3 -Ro
Love this whole thing sm fr. God. I can’t believe how creative people are. - TP
, it IS the greatest mafia movie (n)ever made. Though…it being real (as if it already isn’t in our hearts lmao) might take away the goofy charm of its potential. Also, it’s pretty fun doing the lord’s work and goofing my other friends into the Goncharov rabbit hole. Aaaand now I am itching to make fanart…i mean hey, the fashion, like, jeezus, damn.
This is literally so insane how everyone came together to make it possible and how creative y'all are! :D - Aya
I saw a poster of goncharov in my city and sent in in a group chat w. My friends and said ‘winter is comming to naple’ and one of them said “naples? Like florida!?"
This is so funny my friends are so tired of me telling them about goncharov but they will suffer
HAHAHAH YESS
This is actually insane. I found out about Goncharov through YouTube, and I am absolutely about to troll the hell out of my friends.
Thank you, by the way, meaning everyone whose effort went into this. This is nothing more and nothing less than pure passion and a touch of insanity caused by not enough sleep at night, and i take my several hats off to you all.
44 f’ing pages yall are crazy dedicated to these stuffsA little ALITTLE
A little
No. Goncharov can never die.
Valery Michailov kills Ice Pick Joe
Act 2, Scene 9
This entire scene has no music
Let us set the scene.
It is a soft sunset upon Naples. Landscape shots of the street and Valery’s walking. Then we have a wide shot of the alleyway. The street where Joe runs Goncharov’s operations is deserted, the shabby diner that Joe uses as his cover creaks and groans with the wind. Quietly, Valery (wearing a dirty yellow scarf, a minute detail, as the color is the motif of Joe’s trauma and ,in retrospect, his death) prys the jammed window open from a narrow alleyway. A gust of winds makes chimes blow in the background as he slips inside.
Now, we are in an empty, dark room with only wooden boxes of anchovies. The room is cold and drafty, and you can see bits of sunlight leaking through the small holes in the wood, sending bits of yellow through the room. Valery cracks his knuckles, and releases a slow rattling breath. Trying to calm his nerves, he lights a cigar, before thinking better of it.He snuffs it beneath his feet. He exits the room, the floorboards creaking slightly, as he enters Joe’s office.
Joe’s office is just as threadbare as the rest of the upstairs of the “diner”, except for a desk, a dark lightbulb, and a ticking clock on a dysfunctional fireplace. The audio of the ticking begins to grow louder and louder as Valery pulls the door to hide himself. Patchka the cat meows and Valery startles, but she only blinks lazily at the intruder and ambles down the stairs. Then Valery rights himself, and as the sun sets, you can see the determination harden his eyes. A loud tick of the clock and then a cut to black as the tick softens.
It remains black until we hear Joe’s footsteps, and it snaps to a shot of him walking down the dark sidewalk to his “diner.” The clock’s loud frantic ticking bursts as Joe clutches his head.
Herald
“My name is Michailov. My uncle was Nikolai Michalov. Your worst mistake was feeding Goncha’s platter. I hope your dead recognize who you became. I hate the mob, the violence, and I hate doing this. You know when I was a teenager…But better me than gracious Mario. I care about Yekaterina Goncharova, if that’s any consolation…. Goodbye. *the gurgling starts he takes a pistol and fires straight into Joe’s head, ending his misery*
[1] The in-character explanation for this is that the film was already pushing too many boundaries with regard to its main philosophy and the issues it addresses, so the director decided to keep the sexual aspects off-screen. The out-of-character explanation is that the editor (Connanro) is keeping this PG-13 so minors can safely interact with it.
[2] Lo Straniero is not a name; it is Italian for the Stranger.
[3] It is unclear whether Goncharov is an assumed identity/role or Goncharov’s actual name, nor does he have an actual given name in the film. Other adaptations, such as The Goncharov Trilogy, include a given name. A fan-favorite is Leonid, or Leo.
[4] The Soviet Union actually fell in 1991, as multiple people have been kind enough to point out. It is unclear whether JWHJ 0517 was predicting its future collapse, or whether the film had brief access to a close parallel dimension.
[5] Rage-against-the-dying-of-the-light. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[6] Sources conflict as to whether Daddano’s first name is spelled “Andrey” or “Andrei.” While the 1973 film credits him as “Andrey” (see Beelzeebub), the novel on which the film is based refers to the character as “Andrei.” In this document, he is typically referred to as “Andrey” in deference to Matteo JWHJ 0715’s choice.
[7] Jutrzenko. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[8] The strong discourse between i and y in the spelling of Andrey/Andrei is a common misconception among Scorsese’s fans unfamiliar with Slavic languages (see Woodzbfgf et al. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022). As a Roman letter transliteration of Андрей (also Андреј and Андрэй in other Cyrillic scripts) include Andrey, Andrej and Andrei. Quite simply, the spelling does not matter. The choice of which final letter is not dependent on Ukrainian or Russian heritage, rather on the individual's choice. See also English Language and Usage.
[9] Martian-martian-martian; Frodho-slaggins. Tumblr post, 20 November, 2022. There has been some debate about Andrey being Jewish coded as it has been received as antisemitic over the years; however, several articles in recent years argue that his Jewishness is another layer of subversion that contradicts contemporary antisemetic narratives.
[10] The official poster does not include a last name for Katya; however, in the film Valery is referred to as her brother. While this could be a pseudo adoptive relationship (fitting with the themes of agency and legacy), the editor has chosen to interpret the relationship as biological. Note that patronymics - a middle name based on the father’s first name - are used in Russia. Examples: Michail - first name, Michailovich/Michailovna - patronymic/middle name (literally meaning ‘son/daughter of Michail’), Michailov/Michailova - surname (literally meaning ‘male/female in Michailov family). See here for more on Russian naming culture. (Thanks to A. Birch for this information!)
[11] The alexandrite ring has been referred to as “one of the most significant pieces of symbolism in Goncharov.” See “Kitchen Scene.”
[12] This dress has been connected to Sofia’s green dress as a symbol of their romantic relationship, like the titular character and her love interest in Killing Eve.
[13] Aburngods. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[14] Gingerhastoomanyobsessions. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[15] Randomlikeliness. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[16] Yardsards. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[17] Beelzeebub. Tumblr Post. 24 November, 2022.
[18] While she does not appear in the film, Virginia “Gina” Morelli is Joseph’s wife and Paolo’s mother.
[19] In the novel, Patchka is cared for by Felix Petrov after Ice Pick Joe’s death.
[20] Original director’s cut refers to her as “Sofia Ambrosini” in the end credits. While never explicitly stated in the film, it is implied that she may be the long-lost sibling or related cousin of Mario Ambrosini. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[21] Theburialofstrawberries. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[22] Novoaa1. “Sister Maria.” Archive of Our Own. 21 November, 2022.
[23] Miss Bananarose. Tumblr post. 25 November, 2022.
[24] Susiephone. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[25] 0hcicero. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[26] Cup-noodle. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[27] Invisiblemanreturnmycalls. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[28] Nyxstarfinder. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[29] In the novel, the Dell’Ammare family uses a dialect specific to Apulia; however, this did not translate to American English.
[30] Onion-souls. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[31] Ari-the-fallen-tumblr. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[32] Tcheschire. “Nightingale.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[33] Beeyonetta. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[34] Mariella Morelli is considered a symbol for the cycle of violence in abusive families, and Mariella Daddano the lack of substance that many female roles hold in the movie industry.
[35] Ironically enough, Katerina and Katya share the same name (with a minor difference as Katya’s full name is Ekaterina). This name is a Russian variant of the Greek Katherine, which means pure.
[36] Willowingends. “My Face Pressed Up against Love’s Glass.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[37] Gonchpost. Tumblr post. 8 January, 2023.
[38] Rybak (Рыбак) means fisher in both Polish and Russian. The implication is that Rybak is fishing from other people’s pockets [via Akk Ko, comment on 23 November].
[39] Secondbeatsongs. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[40] Mrsblackruby. Tumblr Post. 22 November, 2022.
[41] TropicalScream. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[42] “Patchka” can refer to a pack of cigarettes.
[43] Troutlawyer. Tumblr Post, 20 November, 2022.
[44] While this is not shown in the film, Patchka was adopted by Felix Petrov after Ice Pick Joe died. This is generally considered to be a reminder of the way Goncharov’s acquaintances follow him wherever he goes. [via Justaleafinthewind.]catgirl-katya]
[45] Girlredacted. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[46] Tuulikki. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[47] Supernova42360. Tumblr Post. 10 December, 2022.
[48] Elytrians; M-e-w-666. Tumblr post. 6 December, 2022.
[49] Redbuddi. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[50] Cupidsbower. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[51] Cupidsbower. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[52] T4tlambert. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[53] Mariana_oconnor. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[54] Twofacedcesario. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[56] Edward-nb. Tumblr post.
[58] Synopsis provided by the editor.
[59] 0hcicero. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[61] “This scene is pivotal as it introduces the audience to Andrey. In contrast to Katya we are introduced to Andrey through Goncharov's lens. [It] also provides the first dialogue in the film, which must contain background, conflict, setting, and motive.” (Thanks to manda manda611 for this analysis!)
[62] Draculard. “The Taste of Your Lips / Tobacco and Wine.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[64] Miss Bananarose. Tumblr post. 25 November, 2022.
[65] Absoluteabsolem. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[66] Seearcane. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[67] NonaAndPickles. Tumblr Post. 20 November, 2022.
[68] TheQuietWings. “Too Tired to Be a Moth.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[69] Inneskeeper. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[70] NotCaycePollard. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[71] DameOf Death. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[72] Les Poisson is French for “the fish.” The fact that both “The Pearls” and “Anchovies” take place in this restaurant is clearly intentional, as both scenes are setting up themes of romance (which is associated with everything French) and the underlying power plays.
[73] Aroaceofthesea. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[74] Inneskeeper. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[75] AsexualSapphic. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[76] Graphite.Warrior. Restored opening storyboard. 22 November, 2022.
[77] Doityourselfbombs. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022. Note that the scene is called “that one party scene.” Since no scene has that name, it was attached to the most likely possibility.
[78] Rnanqo. “Glory, Sweet.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[79] I find it fascinating that the Goncharov household attend Catholic mass when they would have grown up Russian Orthodox. This perhaps symbolizes one of the many ways that displacement and assimilation affect every aspect of life.
[80] GalacticLance. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[81] This apple is noticeably redder than in the previous scene, as it comes later in the movie and as such follows the established color theory pattern.
[82] Androxys. “Hubris Is Our Word for Love.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[83] Galactlance. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[84] Secondbeatsongs. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[85] Yardsards. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[86] Flaming-shapeshifter. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[87] Ichorai. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[88] Treelunar. “What’s a Little More Blood?” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[89] As per 1974 deleted scene elaborating on this plot point, referenced in The Briefcase in ‘Non Canonical Scenes’.
[90] Lezbianz. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[91] MoonmadMist. “3:30, Always 3:30.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[92] Gingerhastoomanyobsessions. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[93] The-frosty-mac. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[94] Raviposting. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[95] Emmalylis. “Andrey Delivers.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[96] OrangeRoseUndying. “Ashes In My Wake.” Archive of Our Own. 22 November, 2022.
[97] This parallels the famous clocktower scene where Andrey says “If you loved me, you wouldn’t have missed.”
[98] Illeaadante. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[99] Tsippor. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[100] Deadly-fruit-punch. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[101] Wondersmith-and-sons. Tumblr post. Salient passage of Francine Rubek’s Violent Delights, Violent Ends: On Queer Readings of Masculine Tragedy (2003) for scene analysis.
[102] Houseofthelabyrinth. Tumblr post. November 20, 2022.
[103] Cup-noodle. Tumblr post. 27 November, 2022.
[104] With important plot information.
[105] Carrot_Rex. “Left Without a Name.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022.
[106] Implied by Cypherfresh’s fic (see below).
[107] Cypherfresh. “The Ever-Present Ticking On of Time.” Archive of Our Own. 20 November, 2022. This fic appears to be based on an earlier version of Ice Pick Joe’s death, as in the film he sacrifices himself for Andrey and is killed with his own ice pick. See Yardsards.
[108] Katya’s presence here conflicts with the scene documented/referenced in various Tumblr posts where Katya finds out about Joe’s death. It is not clear whether this an authorial liberty on Cypherfresh’s part, or a deleted scene from the 2003 DVD release.
[109] While Cypherfresh’s fic suggests that Ice Pick Joe betrayed the Goncharov faction, the opposite is actually true.
[110] flaming-shapeshifter. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[111] Tumblr post by archivist @martian-martian-martian, in discussion with colleague @lesbianmarrow.
[112] Scary-flag. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[113] Tumblr post by @fantasticfables: 701647120347873280 (post created Nov 21 2022; added Nov 23 2022.)
[114]Absoluteabsolem. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[115] Inthefallofasparrow. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[116] Vigilantsycamore. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[117] Writing-is-a-martial-art. Tumblr post. 20 November, 2022.
[118] Rythyme. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[119] Badgraph1csghost. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[120] Sockenpuppe. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[121] Mysticsnowfang. Tumblr post. 21 November, 2022.
[122] Fitzrove. Tumblr post. 22 November, 2022.
[123] Fitzrove. Tumblr post. 8 December, 2022.
[124] Firefoxies. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[125] Sbeeb. Tumblr post. 23 November, 2022.
[126] Inspectorclarke. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[127] Asbestwater. Tumblr post. 25 November, 2022.
[128] The-77ththelement. Tumblr post. 24 November, 2022.
[129] Sparky Lurkdragon. “Goncharov Genesis Walkthrough.” Archive of Our Own. 25 November, 2022.
[130] 1percentcharge. Tumblr Post. 22 December, 2022.
[132] Forvo. “Как произносится Гончаров (язык: русский).” Accessed 7 December, 2022.
[133] Forvo. “Произношение Гончарова: Как произносится Гончарова (язык: русский).” Accessed 8 December, 2022.
[134] All Creatures Great and Small, Tumblr. Accessed December 15, 2022.
[135] formerlyanon. Tumblr Post. Accessed 22 December, 2022.
[a]The invite has expired.
Just wanted to tell you that this has been a great tool to have! I often harass my family by making silly presentations and then making them sit through my ramblings (I made one all about The Wiggles lore).
I intend to prank them with a "deep dive" into the lore of Goncharov and how it's lost media only to reveal at the end that it's all fake.
Curious if anyone else has tried to prank unsuspecting people with a Goncharov presentation?
[b]Dead link
[c]Dead link
[d]Dead link
[e]Apparently the Links here for Music and the Themes don't work anymore?
[f]Philosophical and Cultural Themes also doesn't work anymore
[g]hey this also doesn't lead anywhere anymore?
