It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that most film love triangles could be solved by a threesome. Bed and Sofa (aka Tretia Meshchanskaia), a Russian film from 1927, would come close to this suggestion. A Russian housewife cheats on her husband with his friend. She then coaxes both men into a polyamorous relationship. Russia’s New Economic policy had expanded the job market. But not the housing market. The three initially stay together because none can afford to live alone. But queer subtext suggests there is more to it. The handsy husband shares two surprisingly erotic kisses with his male friend. And seems quite eager to keep him around.
Director Abram Room stages a controversial story with kitchen sink realism. The feminist and queer themes are presented without judgement. Nikolay Batalov gives a broad, comic performance as the oafish husband. Vladimir Fogel and Lyudmila Semyonova give subtler performances as his friend and wife. It’s a classic of Russian and silent cinema that holds up today.
Let’s discuss in this spoiler filled recap.
The Worker, His Wife and her Lover
Scene One: Reunion
VLADIMIR (Earnest): My old army buddy! I’ve just moved to Moscow. They say the job market is thriving.
NIKOLAI (Jolly): Bestie! (Kisses him on the mouth.) Come sleep on my sofa till you find work. My servant-wife Lyudmila will cook and clean for us. Ha ha ha!
LYUDMILA (Bitter): Jerks.
Scene Two: Affair
NIKOLAI: I’m leaving town for a work conference. I trust you’ll both behave. Ha ha ha!
VLADIMIR: You never leave this apartment. Let me take you on a date. (They explore Moscow.)
LYUDMILA: You’ve shown me more kindness in a day than my husband’s shown in years.
(They begin a love affair.)
Scene Three: Complications
(Days later, Nikolai returns home and covers Vladimir’s eyes.)
VLADIMIR: Darling is that you? (Nikolai kisses Vladimir on the mouth.)
NIKOLAI: Surprise “Darling!” Ha ha ha!
LYUDMILA: Awkward. I’m sleeping with your friend. You’ll have to share me.
NIKOLAI: Damn you both… Let’s try it.
Scene Four: Throuple
LYUDMILA: Would you like some tea?
(That’s code that it’s one man’s turn to share her bed while the other sleeps on the sofa.)
VLADIMIR: Now cook and clean for us while we play checkers.
LYUDMILA: Ugh. Now I’m babysitting two of you.
Scene Five: Months Later
LYUDMILA: I’m pregnant.
VLADIMIR & NIKOLAI: Neither of us wants to raise the other man’s son. We’ll pay for an abortion.
LYUDMILA: Progressive. But I’m sick of you both. I’m leaving to raise this baby alone.
VLADIMIR: Also progressive. Nikolai, it’s just you and me now. Would you like some tea?
(The men give each other a look that could mean everything or nothing.)
NIKOLAI: Why didn’t we think of this before?
THE END
Platonic Friendship
When “Bed and Sofa” was shown in the country, the peasants become outraged, spitting out, “Ah so that’s how they behave in the city” and “That’s how Sovkino promotes the bond between city and country.” ~ Silents Are Golden
The Bolsheviks had decriminalized male same-sex relations in 1922. Stalin would recriminalize it in 1933. That would have given these gents a few safe years. Could the trio have made this work? If the men had treated Lyudmila with more respect? If Lyudmila found work outside the home? If Nikolai was free to explore his sexuality? Could this all have been avoided if Vladimir had found his own apartment?
Bed and Sofa was, allegedly, inspired by the life of poet Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky, who had a similar relationship to a married couple. The story was adapted into a chamber opera in 1996 by Polly Pen and Lawrence Klavan. The cast album suggests it did not expand upon the queer subtext. But, it’s there.
Bed and Sofa is currently available on YouTube. You can find more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.