Original subtitles

February 1917

It was the third year of a difficult war with Germany

The Russian army made several big attacks to support her allies - France and England, and had big losses.

2 million people were killed, wounded, surrounded in 1916 alone.

Nevertheless, the Russians under the command of Emperor Nicholas II were able to re-arm the army successfully,

reinforce it with new troops, and get ready for a decisive spring attack.

At the rear, the war resulted in a tense situation.

Even so, the prestige of the tsar's authority with the people and the army was still high and able to withstand the disintegration with confidence.

Petrograd was an exception.

Studio Vera and Roskomkino present

A Film by Gleb Panfilov

THE ROMANOVS: A CROWNED FAMILY

Tsarskoe Selo, Alexander Palace

February 22, 1917 The night before the Tsar's trip to Stavka

ALEXANDRA: Sweet and mellow like a jello

Nicky

let's go, hmm....?

.....bad boy

You should be strong.

They should be afraid of you.

They need the knout

You never failed to show your love to them.

Show your fist to them now.

It's not worth it, my dear.

It's not?

Milukov blamed me for being a traitor in public. And the vile Duma applauded him.

I - a grandaughter of Queen Victoria - am a German spy?

Yes, I am half German.

But I hate Germans, especially the kaiser, your cousin.

You trusted him, and he betrayed you.

And now, Milukov and the Duma want to remove me as a German spy.

Did you forget?

Did you forgive them?

I didn't forget neither forgive, not Milukov neither the Duma.

I signed an order today to suspend the Duma.

Then why do you need to make a speech in front of them ? Huh?

My dear, Rodzianko begged me to do it.

Your Rodzianko...

Prince Golitsyn asked me...

And you listened to him?

He is the prime minister, my dear.

He is a milksop and a has-been.

Remember, you recommended him...

Mama

Mama, I am afraid...

Papa

they wanted to kill you and all of us...

Who?

Some people...I don't know them.

Calm down Alexei. There is nobody here but Mom and me.

He has a fever. He is shaking.

Let's get him to bed.

Be careful, Nicky

Anyuta, call for a doctor, and give me a thermometer.

ANNA DEMIDOVA: The thermometer is right there.

Dr. Derevenko went to the village, and Botkin is taking his turn with Olga Nikolaevna.

How is she doing?

Not very well. She has a high fever - 40 C

My Dear God...

Daughters, why are you so sad?

Mashka, why are you hanging your head?

MARIA NIKOLAEVNA: And you are asking...?

I feel sorry for my brother.

He was going to go with you and he got sick.

He is so unfortunate and lonely

NICHOLAS: Why lonely?

He has all of you, he has me, he has Mom

What us..?

You're leaving; Mom is up to her neck with stuff...

Up to my neck with stuff..?

This is something new!

Would you please explain to me what it does mean?

Up to your neck means very busy.

This is true.

Cheer up.I'm not leaving yet. I'll be back.

Are you leaving?

In one hour

Come back soon

There is no joy here without you.

Get well soon.

May God keep you, my daughter

Papa...

How are you feeling, son?

I'm fine my eyes are burning a bit.

And a sore throat...

A little bit...

Stay, stay...

As soon as you get better you'll come to me.

I'll take you to a military inspection, OK?

Do you remember the Siberian streltsy?

Yes, I do.

And submarines in the Riga...?

I remember.

They were covered with a thick layer of ice.

Yes, and it was horribly cold, -30 C and windy. So, get dressed warmly.

Agreed?

I will not come anyway.

Why?

Because I am sick and I will be sick for a long time.I am always sick.You know it.

And Mama knows it. I am an invalid, a hemophiliac.

Who said that you are invalid?

Nobody, I know it.

This is not true.You are not an invalid.

You are a good, lively, and intelligent boy.

If you would always listen to me you would not get sick.

Mama is right.You will get better.

You'll see it.

Papa, don't leave, please.

Stay...

I ask you.

This is for you.

What is it?

Open and see it.

An egg?

It is not only an egg.Open it.

A clock!

My father gave me this as a gift...your grandfather.

Now, I give it to you.

Thank you, Papa.

Papa, don't leave,stay...

We will all be together. Please.

My daughters... my dearest.

They look...

My glorious...

Nicky...

Everyone looks at us, do you see it?

So what?

It is time to go, Your Majesty.

I love you.

Attention! Listen up!

Present Arms!

Take care of yourself, Nicky.

PetrogradState Duma

Gentlemen,

M.V. Rodzianko, President of the DumaHis Majesty the emperor will not come to us today.

How is it...? Why will he not come...?Please explain it, Mr. Presdient.

A minute ago, on the phone, the Prime Minister Prince Golitsyn informed me that the Emperor left for Stavka urgently...

...where the circumstances demand his personal presence.

I told you about it.Don't you find that this is a slap in the Duma's face?

And this is not the first slap!...

(Ranting among members)

(Knock at the door)

Yes, come in...

Your Majesty, lunch is ready.

Should I serve it?

Yes, please...?

PetrogradFebruary 1917

(Explosion)

Steppe... and steppe was around.

Long way was ahead

A coachman was dying

In this god-forsaken steppe.

A coachman was freezing to death

In this god-forsaken steppe.

And feeling that death was coming,

He got all his stength

To give the last order,

To his companion.

How is he...?

He is resting.

This is an urgent telegram from Rodzianko in Petrograd.

What is it about?

Chaos in the city....

He will get upset....

We need to report...

He fell asleep.

We need to report...

...Tomorrow after arrival...

...After arrival...?

We will report just after arrival.

Take counsel with your pillow.

Nothing can be done right now anyway...

It is impossible...

Things will settle one way or another...

...one way or another...

MogilevStavka

I am happy to greet you, Your Majesty

Welcome.

How do you do, Mikhail Vasilyevich,

How is your health?

What's the news?

My health is OK thank God, Your Majesty.

Doctors say that I recovered.

But now the news...

Did something happen?

Yes, it did, Your Majesty.

What is it?

There is unrest in Petrograd.

It cannot be... I left from there yesterday.

Everything was quiet.

It must be a misunderstanding...

(reading of poem EUGENE ONEGIN by A.S Pushkin)Already I foresee a difficulty:

Anxious to preserve my country's reputation,

I must of course without hesitation,

Translate Tatiana's letter fully.

Alas, she knew Russian rather badly,

And did not read our Mirror and Sun,

And expresses herself somewhat akwardlyIn the language of her mother tongue.

And so, she wrote in French of course...

What are you laughing at?

Don't you like Pushkin?

(Speaking English)I like Pushkin, but your reading is so unusual.

Thank you...

And so, she wrote in French of course...

Your Majesty, Count Benkendorff came with a very urgent report.

Boatswain, read next please

Yes, ma'am

Stay there. I'll be back soon.

Come on, read it

Your Majesty, maybe it would be better to look at the pictures.

Read!

Maybe boxing...?

OK...

Here it is.I dropped it because of you.

What is it?

This is a clock.

Your Majesty, this is a beautiful thing.It probably costs a lot.

Is it working?

Yes, it is.

Thank God.

Box!

How is it?

Excellent!

What if I use the book?

You may...

Eugene Onegin...

How is it?

Good.

Now pillow...

Excellent...

How is it?

Knockout.

You won.

Mama...

Boatswain, leave us and call for Tatiana Nikolaevna please.

Yes, ma'am.

How are you, My Dear?

I am fine, what happened?

I'll tell you later.

Mama, did you call for me?What happened?

This is horrible news.

There is riot and revolt in Petrograd.The military broke its oath and joined the crowd.

It is not news.

I told you about it.

When did you tell me?

I told you the day before yesterday. What, did you not hear me at all?

It's possible.

All of you are ill. my head is going around.

Rodzianko sent a message for us to leave as soon as possible.

Where, Mama?

Where? I don't know...To Livadia possibly...

to Livadia? Splendid!

Sit down!

In my opinion, Mama, this is very good advice.

If the crowd comes here, it will be bad for us.

What are you trying to say?

I am trying to say, Mama, that we need to pack our suitcases and beat feet to Papa.

He has the army there.

What kind of expression is that?

Beat feet means to speed away while we are still okay.

But all of you are sick...!

Personally I am healthy.

Your ear hurts.

It's nothingWe'll wrap up warm and go to the train station.

Right?

Right.

We'll get wrapped up and go to Papa. He will protect us.

Mama, we have to go. You must understand.

Yes, you don't have a lack of personality...

Who do you remind me of?

My great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.And you Mama... a little bit.

I am going to give out an order to pack and send a telegram to Papa...

...under your name, of course.

May I?

You will show it to me...

...Of course.

The situation is getting worse. Prompt action has to be taken now because it will be too late tomorrow.

The time has come to when the fate of Russia and the Dynasty is decided.

(Signed)The President of the Duma M.V. Rodzianko

So, what does Rodzianko want from me?

A new government responsible to the Duma led by himself...?

Quite right, Your Majesty, just so.

He is a sly one, to be sure! Nothing to say...

So, Constitution...?

Yes.

Allow me to report, Your Majesty.

The crowd took the Cresty District by storm. Not only poitical prisoners but criminals also have been liberated.

Good gracious! From bad to worse.

Roberry and pilage are taking place in the city, 250,000 strikers...

A minute ago, we got an inquiry from Count Benkendorff from Tsarskoe Selo by phone.

What is it?

Would you like Her Majesty and the children set off to meet you?

With ill children - to meet me?What necessity is in it?

I will come to them by myself.

The necessity is very critical, Your Majesty. The revolution is strong in Petrograd.

This is a dangerous minute, Your Majesty.

Anarchy prevails in Petrograd, The right place for you and the Heir is here in Stavka.

True, Your Majesty.

All Russia is quiet, except Petrograd; there is no disorder anywhere else.

All active army is strictly under your command.

How can Your Majesty leave all of it and go alone to Tsarskoe Selo? You'll expose yourself to danger.

64 divisions are waiting for dry roads and the order to attack.

We have enough projectiles, Your Majesty.We will beat the Germans.

Victory is close, Your Majesty. It is an arm's length away.

You might be right.

Thank you, Mikhail Vasilyevich and Ilya Leonidovich.

Thank you gentlemen.

Would you like to have some tea?

With pleasure...

Gentlemen, enjoy...

Singing Song

Vladimir Nikolaevich, hold on please.

THE FATAL DECISION

At your service.

(telling a joke, anecdote) The maidservant leaves the service of Beethoven. He is very upset about it. He asks her: "Anna Maria, don't leave me, don't leave me...

She says: "Who- me?... Ha-ha-ha-ha..."

...You inspired me for so many years!"

Attention, gentlemen.

We will leave in one hour.

Where?

To Tsarskoe Selo...

The order of His Majesty.