Wed 11 August 2010
Lecture-Screening
The Tsar
Film introduced by Vitaly Yerenkov

Language: In Russian

Russia | 2009 | colour | 118 mins | cert.14 | dir. Pavel Lungin, with Pyotr Mamonov, O.Yankovsky, R.Iskander, A.Domogarov, I.Okhlobystin and others

This film shows one of the most dramatic periods of Russian history – the opposition between Ivan the Terrible and archbishop Philippe. Year 1565, dark times in Russian history. The reign of Ivan the Terrible. Rus’ is torn by famine and the Livonian War. The Tsar sees treason and betrayal in everything and everyone. His faithful servants – the oprichniks – have drowned the country in blood. They see an enemy of the Tsar in everyone. Their only law is the Tsar’s word. The only one who dares to contradict the Tsar and the horrors of oprichnina is Archbishop Philippe, a faithful childhood friend of Ivan the Terrible. Philippe raised his voice and sacrificed himself.
Archbishop Philippe is the last role played by the great Russian actor, Oleg Yankovsky, before he passed away in May 2009.