The Cloven Tongue
Summary
A tapestry of manipulation and social unrest unfurls within "The Cloven Tongue," a potent silent-era drama dissecting the corrosive influence of unchecked desire and class subjugation. At its core lies Nicolai Orloff, a prosperous horse dealer whose every decision is meticulously orchestrated by his rapacious mistress, Glasha. Her dominion over Orloff's affairs is absolute, casting a long, malevolent shadow that darkens with the return of his innocent daughter, Sonia, from her schooling. Glasha's immediate, visceral antagonism towards Sonia intensifies dramatically when the young woman's path intertwines romantically with Prince Alexis. Consumed by her own covetous yearning for the Prince, Glasha ruthlessly exploits her sway over Orloff, compelling him to sever his daughter's blossoming affection. The narrative then plunges into deeper intrigue with Glasha's abrupt disappearance, leading to Prince Alexis being unjustly implicated in her presumed demise. Yet, the true architects of her fate are ultimately revealed not as a singular, vengeful lover, but as a collective, enraged force: the local peasant women, driven to a desperate act by the brutal economic oppression they suffered, an oppression they rightly attributed to Orloff's cruel management, itself a direct consequence of Glasha's avaricious counsel. The film thus culminates in a chilling exposé of how personal venality can ignite widespread societal retribution, painting a stark portrait of justice meted out from the margins.
Synopsis
Nicolai Orloff, a horse dealer, is swayed in the management of all his affairs by his selfish mistress, Glasha. His daughter Sonia, returning from school, discovers the other woman strangely antagonistic toward her, particularly when she meets and falls in love with Prince Alexis. Desiring the prince herself, Glasha prevails upon Orloff to forbid his daughter continuing her romance with him. Later, Glasha disappears and the prince is accused of murdering her. It develops in the end, however, that she was killed by enraged peasant women who objected to the harsh treatment accorded them by Orloff, who they knew was influenced by Glasha.
