In early 19th century Russia, a bored St. Petersburg socialite named Onegin inherits his uncle's estate in the country.

Her sister, Tatiana (Tanya), writes Onegin a passionate love letter but he turns her down because of her youth and inexperience.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said, "There is a cool, mannered elegance to the picture that I like, but it's dead at its center.

"[6] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote, "An earnest but worthwhile attempt to render the Russian writer's tragic and romantic verse novel of 1833 for the screen... we are estranged from the distinctively comic savour of the original.

"[7] On the more positive side though, Derek Elley of Variety said ""Onegin" may not appeal to more cynical viewers unprepared to take the emotional leap of faith the movie demands".