Original subtitles

This film tries to tell not unfaithfully certain possible events of the reign of

Alexander II, Tsar of all the Russias, who was called 'The Liberator'.

Your Majesty, the ministers have arrived.

Well, they can wait a little.

Remember this rule, my son.

lt is the right of an emperor to keep nobody waiting,

except his ministers.

A minister who is received immediately

acquires too much importance.

This is the first time that you've attended a council of government.

Listen well to what is said,

and even more, try to work out what they are not saying. Eh?

Come.

His Majesty, the Tsar.

Sit down, gentlemen.

I want to know first if you have read

the open letter

addressed to me by the Swiss Alexandre Aertzen.

The newspapers that printed it were seized at the frontier.

Not one made it into Russia.

This. This here.

Fortunately, I have my own police,

because if I had to rely on yours,

I wouldn't know anything.

Here's what Aertzen wrote:

''Sire, give land to the peasants.

''Abolish serfdom.

''Heal the scars on the backs of our brothers.

''Save the people.

''Prevent blood from being spilt.''

Aertzen is an emigrée, a revolutionary, a journalist:

three reasons never to read his prose. Isn't that right, gentlemen?

There is someone here who thinks Aertzen is not wrong

and that serfdom should be abolished.

Ah. And may I know who?

Me.

If I was not the emperor, you would send me to Siberia

for subversive opinions. - Oh, Majesty.

We will return to that question when the time comes.

Let us look at urgent matters:

the nomination of a new governor for the province of Kazan.

You propose...

General Kernovski, a friend to us all.

Your Majesty approved the choice.

Well, I have changed my mind.

I'm namimg Colonel Vernichov.

You know him?

No. But Your Majesty designated...

You have something with which to reproach Vernichov?

Absolutely nothing, Majesty.

I have always thought that the colonel is a valuable man.

Invaluable.

I will appoint him, not the general.

Not possible...

Gentlemen, I regret to tell you

that Colonel Vernichov

cannot be appointed. - And why not?

Because he does not exist. It is a name I have invented.

I wanted to see how far you would go in your cowardice

and sycophancy.

And of course, I name General Kernovski,

a brave soldier, a friend to you all,

that you gave up so easily.

Gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned. Until tomorrow.

It is for your sake that I put on this show,

to show that absolute power is dangerous

and that it is not always easy to be Tsar of all the Russias.

His Majesty.

Stop all this.

Leave me. The mirror.

The doctors all agree: you are getting better.

Yet I feel my heart beating, beating.

Alexander... - Cigarette.

I was worried about you all day.

You are still planning to go without an escort.

Don't worry yourself. Have confidence.

And what's more, don't upset yourself. - Yes.

When one is lying, it makes the danger seem greater.

I must go on Monday to the lnstitution for young girls.

There is a presentation for new students.

You deserve a more valiant wife.

Don't talk any more. Rest.

Let's enrage that new girl.

She had hidden a portrait of the tsar.

I noticed and have taken it. Look.

Oh...

Who took what was under my pillow?

Give it to me.

Give it to me. It's you who took it.

It's mine.

It's mine!

Give it to me!

Well, ladies, what's all this?

Young ladies of an imperial boarding school

are allowed to be a little in love with the emperor.

When we were your age, ladies,

we dreamed of passion with Tsar Nicolas I.

But we had respect.

And we would never have played with his portrait.

To start with, I confiscate this portrait.

You don't have the right.

I don't have the right? You will have a zero for conduct.

Madame, return it to me, please, I beg you.

No.

And what if I told you it was the tsar himself

who gave it to me? - ''The tsar''?

Exactly, the tsar.

On what occasion?

He came one day to visit us unexpectedly.

Impossible.

The tsar visited you unexpectedly?

Why not?

The Dolgoroukis are a family as old as the Romanovs.

And then? - Then...

We sent the evening together and we drank champagne.

That happened to you?

And he found me very well brought up. He told me.

When you give me a zero for conduct,

you offend His Majesty.

I have the pleasure of telling you that the Empress is not coming

and that the tsar is coming in her place.

We will then be able to check the truthfulness of your story.

If you are lying,

you will be punished.

Now,

I want silence.

Everyone in bed.

Is it true that you know the tsar? - Leave me alone.

Vera lvanovna Novanoff.

First in history, first in conduct.

Congratulations.

- Olga Federovna Orlovska.

First in recitation, 2nd in conduct.

Bravo.

- Elizabeth Pedrovsna Rosovsky.

1st in singing, 3rd in conduct.

And...

this Katia Dolgorouki that I mentioned to you

who, to impress us, dared to say

she had dined with Your Majesty.

Approach.

Moreover, she is last in conduct.

We ask your permission

to send her back, if she lied to us.

When we had dinner together,

I promised you a sleigh ride in the snow.

Well, today. I will keep my promise.

I would respectfully point out to Your Majesty

that the Empress had the custom of walking with

the 1st in conduct.

Well, this year, it will be the opposite.

I will take the last

to give her a lecture in morals. It will be her punishment.

Go get your coat.

Anastasia lvanovna Darichkine.

1st in geography.

What made you tell this lie?

They were making fun of me.

So... - So you might have said anything.

No, not anything.

I had already been thinking of you

I knew you were arriving at the house, and I wanted to see you all alone.

You, a Dolgorouki, what are you doing here?

At ''the lnstitute for Girls without dowry'',

as it is sometimes known.

My father is dead, the estate is sold,

the jewels as well,

even the necklace that was in the family for 300 years.

Don't you have an officer brother? - Yes, in Saint-Petersbourg.

Father wanted to arrange for him a marriage for money,

but he preferred to marry for love.

We are like that, the Dolgoroukis.

I remember.

Didn't he ask to be sent to the Caucasus?

Yes.

In the provinces, when one is poor,

it is less obvious.

I want you to forget about all that for today.

What would make you most happy today?

I can tell you? - Of course.

You will receive all that you wish.

Then I would like to go for a great ride at full gallop.

To the lake. And don't spare the horses.

Sir,

I have the feeling that I have seen you somewhere before.

I wonder where it might have been.

Ah. Indeed, I'm wondering where.

It's a real Noah's Ark here: a dog, a goat

young goat, a horse.

Your horse lives with you? - Yes.

It keeps me warm in the winter, and he gets less cold too.

Alas, we will be losing him.

The lord has decided to take him.

By what right?

I have no right to dispute it. I have neither land nor property.

Why does the lord want your horse?

When he loses at cards, he takes our horses to pay his debts.

If I don't have 5 roubles, he takes my horse.

It is not fair.

It is not fair.

You are right, Katia.

Russia is the last country in Europe

where there are still serfs.

But one day, it will change.

''One day'' ? When?

Perhaps sooner than you think.

Why are you laughing?

Because that goat resembles our dance teacher.

I hope that in dance, you are not last.

Yes.

It bores me dancing with girls.

Ah? Well,

I will get you dancing with boys.

I will present you at Court for the next ball.

I don't want to go to balls. - And why not?

Because these balls serve only to marry off young girls.

Ah, you don't want to marry? - No.

Why? I don't understand.

Of course you would not understand.

What a strange girl you are.

Well, I promise not to speak to you of marriage.

Seriously? - I have just said so.

Let's go.

This is for you. - Thank you, sir.

All that?

Yes. - But... 10 roubles ?

Keep your horse.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

But...

This lecture in morality is taking a long time.

Perhaps they've had an accident.

He will not have time to take tea with us.

Traditions have been lost.

The sled, madame.

Quick! In two rows, girls.

Curtsey when I clap my hands.

Rise,

girls.

The emperor has charged me to extend his compliments.

Madame,

he found your establishment very well run.

But he extended a general amnesty to the zeros for conduct.

''Gentlemen of the nobility,

''the time for reform has come.

''We, emperor of all the Russias,

''proclaim the abolition of serfdom

''and give today personal freedom

''to 42 millions of our subjects.''

I want it, I insist on it, I order it.

Long live the tsar !

No, I won't go. Do what you like,

I won't.

When we have a brother who is about to be appointed captain,

we don't refuse to go to the ball.

Don't talk about it too much. It will be official tomorrow morning.

I don't know what I did to deserve this favour.

I haven't asked anything of anyone.

You are too modest.

At last they've recognised your merits, that's all.

In any event, we can stay in Saint-Petersbourg, all three of us.

That's wonderful.

There is a gentleman asking to be received.

The baron... I've forgotten his name.

Baron Tchernigovski,

the private secretary of the emperor.

I am charged to convey the congratulations of His Majesty,

to yourself and your wife.

And also to give this to the princess, your sister.

To Katia, from... His Majesty.

An official dispatch. It is for me to open it.

Oh...

Michel...

Louise, look at this necklace.

It was in the family for 300 years.

I had to sell it on the death of our father.

And here it is.

It is beautiful, isn't it?

It has never been more beautiful.

Princess Helene Feodorovna Oblonski. [N.B. "Princess" in Tsarist Russia was an aristocratic rank, not limited to the Tsar's daughters]

Countess Nadine Petrovna Potolky.

Princess Ariana Pavlovna Volkovski.

Countess Natalia Nicolayevna Mouratoff.

Princess Katarina Dolgorouki.

Countess Nina Pavlovna Javadze.

You are happy? - Yes.

It's like a dream.

I distrust this Dolgorouki.

What are you saying? - Oh, nothing.

Here he is suddenly appointed to the 1st regiment of the guards,

and he didn't even request it.

Well, my dear, I don't like that.

Princess Sofia Alexeiev....

Poor Maria Alexandrovna.

I fear this may be her last ball.

Princess Sofia Alexey Natchevkiaski.

Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to my sister,

for whom this is her 1st ball.

Countess Alexandrovna Romanov.

Princess Louise Dolgorouki does not go out often?

Never, Majesty. she is always found at home in the afternoon.

I would like it that she won't be found there anymore,

that she is invited often to tea.

Starting tomorrow, she will be invited every day and everywhere.

Do it skillfully, subtly.

Your Majesty can rely on me.

With whom do you think the tsar will open the ball?

I think with Baroness Kirianov.

His Majesty would be pleased to accord you the first dance.

What then? It's her?

You're missing something, madame. Look to the side.

What do you see? The other princess Dolgorouki.

With a very beautiful necklace.

Cost 200 000 roubles, in the imperial ledger.

No. 300.

Dear prince, everyone finds your wife ravishing.

And it would please me to be accorded this dance. Would you allow me?

It's true. You are a great success tonight.

Why are you not wearing the necklace that I sent?

I was afraid you would ask this. My brother is the head of the family,

it is his wife who should have the honour

to wear it on the first evening.

With whom are you dancing the second dance ?

Nobody.

After you, I'll never dance with anyone else.

Your Majesty.

You know that there is a fine.

Every time you call me ''Majesty'' here,

you owe me a forfeit.

Choose.

Euh... the tea.

It waits for you.

You want to play cards?

No. You cheat.

Me?

Yes. I win too often.

And I don't want it handed to me on a plate.

What then? - Backgammon.

I can keep an eye on you better.

Good. Let's start.

12.

Your turn.

It's funny.

Every time you call, my sister-in-law is out.

She is invited everywhere.

She never offers to take you with her?

I manage to stay behind.

I'm not as stupid as I look.

What will your brother say when he finds out I've been here?

He won't say much, he knows some things are best left unsaid.

What ''things''? You're not a child after all.

It seems not.

It's true that you have grown.

You seem distracted.

Yes.

Because if it is so, I will come less often.

There, I lost, and without even cheating.

So, can I give you a gift? - No.

Return tomorrow. That will be my gift.

200 roubles. - 300.

I give up.

Who wants my place? - May I?

In this case, me too, I'm leaving the table.

You are refusing to play with me?

I prefer more not to play against you.

Are you accusing me of playing in an incorrect manner?

No. I prefer not to measure myself against someone

whose luck has been too great, for so long.

What are you insinuating? - Nothing.

You know very well.

And if I sent to you two of my friends tomorrow morning?

Beware. I may not have much chance of getting married, but I am an excellent shot.

That gesture will cost you dearly. Tomorrow, you will be dead.

Captain Petrov, Vassili Novitchenski,

you will act as my witnesses in this affair.

Come on, Michel.

Katia?

Katia?

Where are you taking me? - Nowhere.

I have come to say goodbye.

You're leaving? - No, Katia.

It is you who are leaving.

You're going to Paris to finish your studies.

No.

You refuse? You dare disobey me?

Yes, because I love you. Too bad, I have said it.

I loved you since the first day. I will never you another man.

You're leaving. It's an order.

As you've already told me.

So it's true, you don't love me.

Say it,

and loudly so that it hurts me.

Say: ''Katia, I do not love you. I will never love you.''

Say it.

''Katia, I do not love you. I will never love you.''

Good.

Stop the carriage, so I can get off.

Stop... No.

Katia, it isn't true.

I lied. I love you.

I love you. I lied, Katia.

But you must leave. You must.

I'm going, Louise.

I will stay in Paris for at least two years.

When shall we meet?

You don't want to say goodbye?

Goodbye.

It's not my fault, Louise.

My dear cousin.

I'm afraid to see him again.

I'm afraid that his feelings may have changed.

It's been such a long time...

When you were a child, you used to torment yourself over nothing.

Have confidence. He has written to you every day for 2 years.

Except for this last week. - Because of the journey.

You don't forget someone in a week.

It doesn't matter. I'm worried.

It's incredible. We know nothing. Nobody knows anything.

And no newspapers.

In a case like this, they should be publishing a special edition.

I'm going to the ambassador, at the Élysée.

I must know.

They won't tell you anything. They won't let you enter.

Yes, I'm going. I must see him.

Katia?

You're alive!

Alive.

Katia, my love.

Now I can die. I don't care what happens now.

Two years I've been waiting, 711 days to be exact.

I counted them.

I love your hair.

I love your mouth.

Every morning, before opening my eyes,

I've tried to imagine you next to me.

You are there every time.

And I am your wife for the day. - For always.

One day, it'll be like that, you know.

I said: '' for always.''

But, Katia, this evening, I can't have dinner with you.

I know. I've been reading the newspapers.

Ah.

There is a party where you'll be with the King of England.

The queen of England. - The queen and king of Bavaria...

It is not to see them that I must leave you.

They are cousins, and I have no family sprit.

But after an attempted assassination, a sovereign must be seen in public.

It's this role that requires it. This damned role.

Katia...

tell me that I must do my duty. You must.

Then you must...

Thank you.

Listen, Katia.

If I ever find myself single,

I would want to make you my partner

before God and before men.

We must not think the impossible.

I will see you tomorrow?

After tomorrow?

After tomorrow, I must leave Paris.

But I cannot without you.

I want you to return to Saint-Petersbourg.

It doesn't matter what they say.

You're going to that house of yours

and I will come and see you every day.

At last, as long as you love me.

I will love you until my dying day.

The emperor does not suspect that he is being followed?

No, Excellency. We change the agents every day.

He went again to the Princess Dolgorouki?

Yes, Excellency. As every day for the last 6 months.

Every time the emperor goes out with a bag of documents,

it means he is going to her - Remember this detail.

And the envelope for today?

There. But the man doesn't want to continue.

He says that his conscience is in a turmoil.

Give him an extra 20 roubles.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I do not understand your concerns, Koubaroff.

It is in our interests if the tsar has a mistress.

When the tsar's enjoying himself, ministers can dance.

I think that you haven't danced for a very long time.

As unlikely as it seems,

I'm getting the idea that this little princess

is on the way to becoming the "eminence grise" of His Majesty.

In any case, I promise you one thing:

I will break her, this kid.

You should not receive anyone, Majesty. You are very tired.

It is your counsels that tire me.

Tell him to come him.

I hope that...

I will dispense with politeness. Sit down.

Is the tsar's life in danger? - Yes.

Revolutionary groups have been forming.

They send out leaflets. They threaten death to the tyrant.

Koubaroff!

It is the word they use.

It is necessary to close the university.

We're coming to that. In the meantime, it is necessary

that the emperor does not go out daily and unescorted

in the city.

I tried to tell him: he won't listen.

He won't listen to me either. He's crazy about that girl.

Formerly, he often worked in the evening next to you?

Yes. - Now, he works at her's.

And she inspires him to abominable projects,

projects that menace the foundations of the imperial régime.

For example, the right of the people to vote.

No? - Yes.

Russia is lost.

Everything depends on you, madame.

We can still act.

But I would not dare do anything without the consent and protection

of Your Majesty.

What can we do other than pray to God?

God quite often answers the prayers of a Minister of Police.

So what should I ask of God?

To come and take her, perhaps?

Koubaroff... - It is for the sake of Russia, madame.

God will surely hear us.

Yes. And it would be wonderful

but the emperor will be caused great anguish.

Exactly, you will console him.

If only I had the strength.

If the emperor returned to you,

your strength would return too, perhaps.

So? - I don't know.

You are torturing me.

I will give you my answer in a few days.

And then I like you waiting here every day, in our house.

It makes me feel that I belong to you at a distance.

Only, I still go out in the mornings, in secret.

''In secret'' ? - Yes.

I put on a peasant's scarf

and I listen to what they say about you.

And what do they say about me?

They very much love Your Majesty.

But My Majesty requires that you tell me all that they say.

Well, they don't like your ministers. - I don't either.

Change them. - But who replaces them?

When one has absolute power, nobody will tell you the truth.

So, carry on!

If Kubarov could hear you, he'd have you sent straight to Siberia.

Then you'd only have half the people left.

Say, Katia...

since coming back to St Petersburg, have you been reading very much?

Yes. - Prohibited books, I mean.

Where do you hide them?

There.

Are you angry with me?

Oh, why? I have the same.

I have mine hidden in the bedroom.

Tell me, where did you put that portfolio I gave you the other day?

These are all just notes, sketches for a further reform.

The whole régime must be reformed.

What do you have?

What's there? - A man behind the window.

But no.

But no, there is nobody. - I wasn't imagining it, all the same.

Another of Koubaroff's officers.

Wherever I go, there are police everywhere.

I abolished slavery in Russia.

But there's still one: me.

My coat.

I must go. - No.

Not yet. I am uneasy.

Don't be afraid.

Until tomorrow.

Alexander!

Alexander!

My love.

You see all's well, nothing can happen to me.

''We, Marie Alexandrovna, empress of all the Russias,

"decide to extend to our loyal supporter Catherine Mikhaïlovna,

''princess Dolgorouki, the role of lady-in-waiting

''attached to our lmperial Majesty.''

I thank Your Majesty,

but I feel myself unworthy of your favour

and I ask permission to...

To refuse? Well, no. I refuse you the right to refuse.

Leave me.

The emperor risks death every time he crosses the city.

Do you understand why

I demand that you stay here? - Your Majesty, I beg you.

Little fool, you suppose that I'm leading you into a trap?

You fear for yourself. For your life, perhaps.

Here, I swear to you that you will be safe,

and I believe that you well need it.

I am not worried about myself, madame, but I'm afraid...

Of not seeing the one you love?

Rest assured.

Do not believe that I am kind and generous.

But for the living emperor, I am ready to accept anything.

That he should be happy, even with you.

I should envy you, hate you,

but when we see the last days approaching,

we see things in a higher way.

You resemble the young girl I was before.

We were in love, Alexander and I,

but love doesn't last forever.

Madame... - Now, all that is over for me.

I've spent my life trembling for him,

day and night,

without rest.

Everytime I hear our carriage, my heart sickens.

It is because he made it so sick it will soon stop beating.

And then, it will be your turn to listen for the sounds,

to tremble, to sicken...

Your turn, now.

Your turn...

People of Russia, remember those who died in the name of liberty!

Long live the revolution! Death to tyrants!

Long live the revolution! Death to tyrants!

Wait here.

Why do I have the honour of your visit?

Curiosity?

You wanted to see your assassin? - No.

Irony?

You're laughing at my clumsiness?

I came to ask you a question. Sit down.

Sit down!

What were the reasons for your gesture?

How do you answer?

The prosecutor called me a ''mad dog''.

One doesn't have a discussion with a mad dog.

Leave me in peace here.

We are not in court. Here, nobody is listening.

I want to talk to you man to man.

''Man to man''? - Quite simply.

Why do you hate me?

You are the son of a peasant, and I freed the peasants.

You had to give them land too.

What good is liberty when you are cold

and you don't even have enough to buy tools?

I built schools.

I well know it.

It was in one of your schools that I learned to read.

It is thanks to you that I became a revolutionary.

You found work. You were appointed as a teacher.

Listen to me, Soloviev.

When you were a teacher,

would you have allowed your students to make the rules?

Well...

I, too, am a sort of teacher.

Only in my class,

there are 100 million students.

I have the right to exert discipline.

You treat Russians like they were children?

They still are, you know it very well.

It's alarming to see how alike we are.

You, you have played with your life, and me, I risk mine

every day. Why?

Because we both love our people.

If you were not emperor, I may have liked to be your friend.

Only here we are

on opposite sides of the barricade,

and that is stronger than everything.

There is another difference between us.

What?

You are a supporter of the death penalty.

Me? - For sure.

You made me condemn you.

Well, me, I am here to announce your pardon.

My ''pardon''?

You just have to sign your appeal,

and this evening, you will be free.

I will not sign.

I don't want to owe anything to a régime that I hate.

Books have dessicated your heart. I pity you.

Keep your pity.

You will need it one day for yourself!

Kiss, my children.

Katia, our marriage must remain secret.

But I swear to you that before...

A bomb placed below the dining room.

It should have exploded during supper.

Injured? - Probably.

Katia, the general will accompany you

to your accomodation.

I will join you later.

Thank you, general.

Don't cry out. Don't move. Who are you?

It's easy to guess.

One who has been succesful in getting married.

We knew about it.

Our marriage gift opened an hour too early,

but this is only a postponement. Don't move!

If you fire, they'll come. If you go, they'll arrest you.

You are trapped.

They will not take me alive.

Your hand trembles.

You will sign a pass for me.

Write.

We are behind the leaflets signed ''Land and liberty''.

You belong to this group? - You've read our leaflets?

This week, you distributed some new tracts.

You have them printed?

What? You also read our leaflets?

I'm going to say you're right on voting rights and a Constitution.

Don't try to send us to sleep with words.

Sign or I shoot.

Show me your wound. - It doesn't concern you. Sign.

What were you waiting for? Call out. You better call out

I have time.

Who are you? - I burned my papers.

When they hang me, they will hang an anonymous woman.

Do you know who your death will service?

The cause. - No. The reactionaries,

who want the tsar to revoke his decrees,

reinstate serfdom and corporal punishment.

It is for them that you are working,

without knowing it.

The tsar has deceived us. He has promised a Constitution.

He has been working on it for years.

Everything is ready. But your friends don't know it.

Someone has to warn them.

Someone's at the door.

Enter.

Thank you, Fédor.

Someone has to warn them, your friends.

That someone is going to be you.

After this attack, the tsar wil surely abandon his plans.

Violence begats more violence.

It is an infernal chain that we must break.

I promise you that these students will not be executed.

So?

I promise you nothing.

Come.

Even with a pass, you may be questioned.

It is better to go this way. It is safer.

You will avoid the guards.

Have confidence.

I cannot tell you from whom I gained this information.

But I ask that you trust me.

Within 2 months, a Constitution will be promulgated.

It is in our interests to observe a truce.

What are you saying?

Jeliabov?

Sophie Perovsky offers no evidence. I want proof.

I have one.

Students arrested in the Soloviev will be freed shortly. If not,

at our next meeting,

I'll admit they've deceived me.

Give her a deadline.

Why not?

No. Even supposing she has told the truth,

I am against any Constitution offered by the tsar.

It is not enough for me.

Me neither. But it is a first step.

I am against steps and compromises.

I am for terror.

Moreover, a Constitution, it's a lie,

an opium to pacify the people. - Exactly.

We must stop them going to sleep. - The sound of bombs will be their wake-up call.

And the human lives, what about them?

Never mind the lives...

Too bad for those who are afraid.

I am never afraid.

If they have tricked me, I want to be given the next attack.

But I hope there will not be one.

We are again in the presence of the 2 usual theories:

immediate action and gradualism.

I move we vote on the proposition of Sophie Perovsky.

Those for raise your hands.

A majority of the committee has decided

to postpone the terrorist action until our next meeting.

Good.

Gentlemen,

in these last weeks there has been no revolutionary activity.

And I'm counting on this decree

to bring finally to our country

peace and reconciliation.

Secret courts are abolished.

And the third section of the secret Chancellery,

that you created, Koubaroff, is abolished.

An elected parliament will have the right to debate laws and the budget.

I wish that this decree be made public the day

that the princess Dolgorouki

is consecrated in Moscow.

It will be the joyful gift of the new tsarina.

Thank you, gentlemen.

In my soul and conscience,

I am convinced that His Majesty is committing an irreparable error.

But he reigns by the will of God.

Everyone can commit an error,

and in the present case, even God himself.

If I understand correctly, are you daring to suggest...

I am suggesting nothing.

None of us would dream of making an attempt on the life of the emperor.

But in this world of terrorists, it would suffice merely to do nothing.

It is my responsibility to ensure the security of the tsar.

But it could once happen,

that my agents would arrive a little late.

Everyone can make mistakes,

even the Minister of Police.

If anything happened, prince, would you reproach me?

And you, Pahlen?

And you, Paskievitch?

It is in the terrorists' interests to keep the peace,

so how will you get them to break the truce?

It's very simple.

We already have in prison some students involved

in the Soloviev trial.

I have discovered they belong to the group ''Land and Liberty''.

Well...

they will discover tomorrow in their bread bowl a file,

even an excellent file.

Rely on me.

We will make them believe

that their appeal has been rejected by the tsar

and they will be judged by a special court.

They will know perfectly well what that signifies.

They will risk anything.

The guards will be ordered to leave be.

And one fine day...

They are ready for tonight. Have the guards at the ready.

You report will say:

shot while attempting to escape.

They deceived you, Sophie Perovsky.

It served to waste time

and to paralyse us for a month.

And they succeeded.

If this continues, we will be like a revolutionary salon

that talks and does nothing.

They assassinated our brothers in their prison.

How, why, it doesn't matter.

The truce is broken. We must restart the fight.

No mercy for those people. I hate them.

Well, well, Catherine.

You know our rules.

Our deliberations must not be driven by hatred.

Punishment, yes. Killing, yes.

Hatred, no. It's a waste of time.

If anyone has a plan, tell us.

Me.

Every Sunday afternoon, the tsar travels to Saint-Michel

to witness the changing of the guard. There are 2 routes:

by Sodovaya Street and by the hôtel on Catherine canal.

The tsar cannot escape us.

My friends, no more talking.

The revolution is made firstly with bombs.

I agree,

and I ask to lead this attack.

You, Ryssakov? - Yes.

I have a good reason. - I know it.

You have an uncle who lives facing Saint-Catherine canal.

From his window, the street can be observed and...

a bomb can be thrown at the exact moment the tsar's car is passing.

The uncle of Ryssakov is not one of us.

He doesn't know we exist.

Even better. He won't be cautious.

All we need is that Ryssakov visits him on Sundays,

before noon.

Ryssakov, will your uncle be surprised

if you turn up for lunch with him unexpectedly?

He is stingy. It will work better if I bring the provisions.

Good. Then also take him

two bottles of Crimean wine.

What could appear more inoffensive

than a good bottle of Crimean?

It is one of these that will contain the bomb.

Good. Very well.

Those who approve the plan and a date of 13 March raise their hand.

''The ceremony will take place in the Cathedral of the Assumption,

''in Moscow.

''The imperial family,

''the diplomatic corps, high state officials,

''the army and the navy, will be present.

''His Majesty will enter the sacred chapel

''escorted by General Relaiev

''and colonel Tchernikov.

''Princess Dolgorouki

''will be escorted by colonel Rakounov.''

You don't remember me?

I look at you remembering the young girl of the Smolny.

You, in Paris, in Moscow...

you have made me happy, Katia.

We will be happy for a long time hereafter.

I have something to ask the empress.

Through all her duties and charges, that she keeps a few moments

for Alexander and for Katia. - Long moments, I swear to you.

You are very beautiful, Katia.

The Russian people will love you.

they will bless our marriage,

as the Constitution will be promulgated that same day

in all the empire.

The lines indicate Saint-Catherine Quay

and Engineer Road.

And the cross? - The location of the student.

The circle is the tsar's vehicle.

The bomb will be thrown from the third floor window.

Why are you telling me this so late?

They only decided it at the last minute. They are wary.

I see.

I think I should tell Your Excellency

that there are 9 to be aware of.

In this betrayal, I feel that I'm losing my self-esteem.

And how much is your self-esteem worth?

I defer to your generosity. - The name of the student.

There are limits.

I don't have time to debate it. The name of the student.

Ryssakov.

''Ryssakov''...

There. You, stay here.

Wait for the night to pass.

Who is there? - It's me, Stephen.

Hello, uncle. - Hello.

What brings you here on a Sunday?

It's 6 months since I've seen you. Nothing serious?

No, no.

I was passing by and I came up to see you.

Come on, you're lying. An old man like me,

a Sunday, when it's so fine?

You are not hiding something?

No. I assure you not. I'm pleased to see you.

Here, I bought some provisions

and then a bottle of Crimean wine.

And there, what's that? - A surprise for dessert.

So, take it.

Oh, you make me very happy, my little Stephen.

Life is not so much fun, when you are old.

We cannot afford to buy all these good things.

You've worked it out perfectly.

Me too, I have a surprise for you.

Come see.

The tsar will pass just below my window.

It is a spectacle not to be missed.

We will have a ringside seat. Let's drink to the health of the tsar.

Wait, a corkscrew.

His Majesty will descend the great stairway of the palace

and go into the hall A first benediction will be given.

I love your smile.

Close your eyes,

and you won't see anyone but us two.

We will forget the others.

Alas, others will not forget us.

Everything is ready, Majesty. - I'm coming.

I promised to attend the changing of the guard

at Michel.

Afterwards, we can go where you like.

And if you didn't go? - Why?

If we left right away? - I cannot.

I swear I will be back in two hours.

I have a premonition,

something...

inexplicable.

There is no danger.

Remember our pact.

Good bye.

I love you.

I love you.

If Your lmperial Highness would follow me.

His Excellency general Koubaroff.

Let him enter.

Ah, Majesty, I was afraid I was too late.

At the moment of leaving, they gave me the printing proofs.

I could not resist the pleasure of seeing them.

The Constitution ? - Yes.

Wars, whether we win them or we lose them,

it's always the people who suffer. But with this,

I am certain that we have done something for them.

My time on this earth has not been useless.

We all admire your generosity,

but you are putting in peril the basis of the régime.

You speak for those who, under the cover of principles,

defend their own interests.

Your Majesty sees very clearly.

As long as there are principles, a Constitution is as good as any.

There will be a ruin of immense interests, which would herald danger.

What ''danger'' ?

Your marriage, Majesty, would produce rejoicing throughout the empire,

if it wasn't for that reform...

It is linked to my marriage.

I am a happy man,

and my happiness forbids me from being selfish.

I will not give it up. - Hence the danger.

You have protected me from the fearful terrorists.

You have protected me from people in the Court.

Why shouldn't I trust you?

Your Majesty should exempt me from answering that question.

Time passes,

and Your Majesty is awaited. - Ah yes.

I forgot.

You had something urgent to tell me.

It can wait until tomorrow.

Very well. Until tomorrow.

Ah, it's empty.

Say, let's break open that second bottle

to see if it's as good as the first?

Let me open it.

Ah, noon.

The procession won't be long. - You're right. Come.

The area is safe. I have been watching the house.

You have time to go, you join the others.

I am too old to be playing at terrorist.

Who are you? You live here?

No. It's my nephew, an inoffensive boy.

I'll answer fully for him.

I'm here just at the time to watch from the window

the passage of His Majesty.

Alexander!

It's me, Katia. I'm here, close to you.

You hear me?

Alexander...

I beg you, answer. Answer me.

Answer.

Katia...

I love you.