Andrey Kravchuk

The documentary series tells about the history of the new Russian cinema in the context of events that changed Russia forever. The narrative is built in chronological order: from 1992, when the first film was released, where "Russia" was listed in the output data instead of "USSR", to the present. Directors, actors and producers will share their memories of the path in Russian cinema. Among them are Fyodor Bondarchuk, Gosha Kutsenko, Evgeny Tsyganov, Zhora Gooseberry, Pyotr Buslov, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Khotinenko, Valeria Guy Germanika, Sergey Selyanov, Egor Konchalovsky and many others.

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For eight years, a team of specialists created a whole world about which almost nothing was known. The world of Kievan Rus of the tenth century. They managed to make historical films with documentary accuracy. Icelandic sagas and the works of Oriental travelers, Byzantine books and, of course, ancient Russian chronicles were studied and researched. The oldest dated chronicle is kept in the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg. It was these texts that formed the basis of the script. Five built cities, hand—sewn costumes, forged weapons, a Viking ship — a drakkar — built according to the drawings of that time, complex computer graphics - all in order for the viewer to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of the early Middle Ages of the Viking film.

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Catherine II always knew that her successor would not be her son Pavel, but her beloved grandson Aleksandr. From his earliest years, he was brought up as a future ruler - in strict discipline and with a brilliant education. Having finally become emperor, Aleksandr intended to continue the reforms of his predecessors - to abolish serfdom and introduce a constitution. But at the beginning of the 19th century, a war broke out between two great empires - France and Russia. Aleksandr had to go through a thorny path from brilliant reforms to the Patriotic War.

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The era of palace coups in Russia ended with the coronation of a prominent historical figure: Catherine the Great. She could have settled for the role of Emperor’s wife, but her persistence and determination eventually proved that her rightful place was on the throne. She was still a child when she learned that she was to marry Peter III and produce an heir. Catherine, however, wanted to rule Russia herself. She saw the potential of the Russian Empire, and she wanted to implement the ideas of the Enlightenment. Will Russia experience a renaissance of culture and sciences under Catherine? Will her ideas eventually play to her detriment?

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Little Elizabeth thought her future was predestined: she was to marry Louis XV and become the Queen of France – that was the promise given to her by her father, Emperor of Russia Peter the Great. When Peter dies in 1725 without naming a successor, an era of palace coups and power struggles begins in Russia. For some tumultuous years it remains to be seen whether the young Russian Empire and its new capital St. Petersburg would stand, and what future lies in store for the country of Russia. Peter's widow, Catherine I, becomes Empress - the first woman to rule Imperial Russia. She wishes to fulfil the promise her late husband had given to their daughter, but fails. Young Louis XV refuses to marry Elizabeth after learning that she was born before her parents were officially married. That, in his eyes, made her illegitimate.

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About the last tsar and the first Emperor of Russia, Peter I. The era of his reign has been repeatedly described in books and textbooks, but no one has yet tried to study his personality, understand his motives, evaluate the effectiveness and complexity of decisions. Was this a brilliant visionary who changed the course of history, or, on the contrary, was he himself the result of the coming time of inevitable changes? Key specialists in urban planning, public and corporate governance, as well as psychologists and analysts recreate in great detail the personality of the first emperor and the context of his actions.

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The figure of Emperor Peter the Great, as well as the era of his formation and reign, still excites the minds of people all over the world. The creators answer the questions of how to take the throne when you are the fourteenth child in the family; how to win access to the sea when there is no professional army and navy in the country; how to bring a country that no one considered before into world leaders in a few decades, and many others.

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The early Middle Ages. A time of heavy swords and dark blood law. The ruling clan is in discord. The guilt for the accidental death of the brother has fallen on the Grand Duke. According to the law, revenge must be taken by the younger brother, a bastard. For the refusal to kill, he has to pay with eve- rything he had, because “for peace you need more swords than for a war”...

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The story of admiral Aleksandr Kolchak who remained faithful to his oath to the Russian Emperor and fought against the Bolshevik rule after the 1917 October Revolution.

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The story takes place in a small village on the beach of Sea of Azov at the beginning of 1960s. Adolescents passionately dream of love about which they have heard from their elder experienced friends. 16 year-old Ignat is the first to find out what the real feeling is. His love for an adventuress who pretends to be a singer from capital becomes destructive.

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During Christmas, in the winter sky are shining magic stars and miracles happen. The story of a talented man who had a gift and love.

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