Original subtitles

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

MOSFILM

PRESENT

FILM BY KAREN SHAKHNAZAROV

ANNA KARENINA

BASED ON LEO TOLSTOY'S NOVEL ANNA KARENINA

AND ON VIKENTY VERESAEV'S ON THE JAPANESE WAR

EPISODE 3

CHINA. MANCHURIA. 1904

Move aside!

Enough with the fighting.

Catch up, Semyon!

Don't stand around!

You know, they say we stopped the Japanese.

Took sixteen of their artillery pieces and several hills.

Took some captives, too.

What, you don't believe we'll win soon?

No, I don't.

Neither that we'll win soon, nor that we'll win at all.

With so much chaos all around, victory is just impossible.

Everything is plummeting... into a precipice.

And who knows how it will all end.

In that case, why did you go to war in the first place?

Nobody was forcing you.

The thing is, Sergei Alexeevich.

The story that I'm telling you still does not have an ending.

Doesn't it?

No.

Shall I pass you a card?

What do you mean by don't want to?

Be so kind as not to touch the deck, you've been caught once already.

What in bloody hell is this. A hundred rubles missing.

Oh well. I'll keep dealing.

SAINT-PETERSBURG. 1873

So what's now, Alexei?

Why ever did you refuse this excellent assignment to Moscow?

Do you not understand how important it is for your career?

Your foolishness has already displeased certain high-ranking individuals.

Maman! I cannot leave behind my regiment and my friends.

Do not lie to me, Alexei!

You are staying behind with your regiment

only to keep seeing this woman.

- Maman! - And what is this anyway?

What is happening to you? I'd have understood

if it were a brilliant, delicate high-class affair!

But I've been informed, it's nothing but some reckless passion.

Alexander, you tell him!

And you're displeased with me too?

I confess I cannot fathom what you are so concerned about.

I'm concerned about you being impossible to be found anywhere.

You were seen with Karenina again on Monday.

There are some matters that are to be discussed

only by those directly involved. And this is exactly of this nature.

- In those cases, people aren't serving. - Please, just stay out of my business.

Alexei! Do not forget your place.

I will not pry into what manner of love this is, passionate or not.

Sinless or not. I am not a saint. But I do know one thing:

There are many people who do not approve of this love.

If it were some common, vulgar, superficial love affair,

a moment's infatuation, then you would have left me be.

But you wouldn't

since you can see that this is something beyond your understanding.

Alexei, I implore you, cease this madness.

This passion may drive you to do God-knows-what manner of foolish things.

How are you today? Are you unwell?

- No, I am quite well. - No, you are either unwell, or upset.

What are you thinking about?

The same thing as always.

I'd rather you told me about the horse race.

It is a very important event for us, members of the Guard.

The Tsar himself will be attending. And, of course, the entire royal court.

The Empire's best horsemen will be riding.

there will be nine hurdles... But I still see that something is amiss.

I am pregnant.

Hmm...

Well, neither you nor I have ever viewed our relationship as a plaything,

and now our fate is decided.

We must put an end to this lie we've been living!

To put an end...

- How do we put an end to it, Alexei? - You must leave your husband

- and bind our lives together. - They are bound as it is.

Yes, but I mean for good! For good!

But how? Please teach me, Alexei, how to?

How can there be a way out of this? Am I not my husband's wife?

There is always a way out.

Anna, we cannot both...

Things cannot remain as they are. Especially now!

We must be decisive, for our own good.

You must tell him everything, and leave him.

Very well. Let us assume I do it.

Do you know what that will lead to? I'll tell you what is going to happen!

So you are in love with another man and have started an illicit affair with him?

I did warn you of the consequences,

from the point of view of religion, society, and family.

But you did not listen.

And now I cannot have you disgrace my name. Ooooh.

- And more and more along these lines. - Please don't...

Long story short, he will tell me with all his stately sternness and clarity

and impeccable accuracy that he cannot stop me,

but he will do everything in his power to curb the scandal.

And he will, with calm precision, do exactly what he says.

This is how it will end.

He is...

He is not a person, he is a machine, and a merciless one when he is angry.

Still, we do have to tell him,

and then to act depending on what measures he takes.

What do you mean, we elope?

Yes, elope. But I just do not see

how it's possible to go on like this. Not for my own sake.

I can see how much you are suffering.

- So that I can be your mistress. - Anna.

To be your mistress

and to ruin everything...

Never!

I beg you, I implore you! Never, ever talk to me about this!

I am aware of how humiliating, how horrible my situation is,

but this decision is not as easy to make as you believe.

You've sacrificed everything for me!

I will never forgive myself for seeing you unhappy!

Me, unhappy?

I'm like a starving man that has been given a meal.

He may be cold, his clothes may be torn, and he may be ashamed,

but he is not unhappy.

Cornet Nazimov of the Life Guard Lancer Regiment, riding Arrow,

mare, six years old, bred at the Novo-Alexandrovsky state stud farm.

Baron Stempel, Staff-Captain of the Life Guard Grenadier Cavalry Regiment,

riding Lord, stallion.

Lieutenant Arslan-bek-Aydemirov of the Horse Artillery Guard,

riding Wizard, stallion, four years old,

bred at the private stud farm of Count Obolensky.

Count Kuzovlyov, Cornet of Her Majesty's Chevalier Guard Regiment,

riding Second, stallion, four years old, bred at the Streletsky state stud farm.

Baron von Schtakelberg the Third,

Ensign of the Life Guard Grenadier Cavalry Regiment, riding Tiny,

gelding, twenty years old, Russian Don breed, origins unknown.

Count Vronsky, Aide-de-Camp, Rittmeister of the Life Guard Cavalry Regiment.

Count Orlov-Denisov, Colonel of His Majesty's Life-Guard Hussar Regiment.

Lieutenant Tupalov of the Alexandriysky Fifth Hussar Regiment.

Sotnik Filin of the Twelfth Don Cossack Regiment.

Please give all the officers taking part in the race

my most sincere gratitude and wishes of good fortune.

Your Imperial Majesty, would you give the order to begin?

Yes, go ahead.

- Greetings, General. - Good day, Sir. Are you not racing?

My race is harder.

There are two sides, the performers and the spectators.

And fondness towards such spectacles

is a sure sign of the low intellectual level of the latter.

- Good day, Alexei Alexandrovich. - Good day.

Mhm... It's so dazzling in here that my eyes can't focus.

My compliments, Countess. Thank you for bringing Anna.

- We will be going back together. - A bet, Countess!

Who are you betting on?

Anna and I are rooting for Count Kuzovlyov.

And I'll bet on Vronsky. A pair of gloves

- It's a deal! - I think they're about to begin.

Oh yes, everything's ready.

Gentlemen! Form the line.

- Ready? - Ready.

Set. Go!

Dear heavens!

- Ah! - What a misfortunate race.

Bloody hell.

He's badly hurt.

What?

Just a moment, I'll see what's going on.

I must... I must go...

Must... Must go to him... Must find out... Must...

- find... out... - Come, we should leave.

Let's go home.

Stiva! Stiva!

- Stiva! - One more time,

- I am offering you my hand. - Please leave me be, I am staying.

Thank God, he's alive! Alive...

And now I am offering you my hand for the third time.

Alexei Alexandrovich, come now,

I brought Anna here, I can take her back too.

My apologies, Countess,

but I see that Anna is not quite well, so I want her to come with me.

- What manner of race was this? - Alexei, are you all right?

Dear God, this is so horrible!

- So many people injured... - What have I done!

What have I done!

- Is he all right? - Yes, all right...

- They say he's broken his leg... - There, there he goes, all in one piece.

Where? Come on, let me see...

Curious how we are all driven to this violent entertainment.

- I notice that... - What?

I do not understand.

I must tell you...

I must tell you that your current behavior is inappropriate.

What is inappropriate about my behavior? What exactly do you find inappropriate?

The anguish that you failed to conceal when one of the riders fell.

I have already requested that you carry yourself in society with decency

so that no-one's wagging tongues might speak against you.

At one point I mentioned internal relations,

but I am not talking about those now.

Now I am talking of relations of the external nature.

You have been acting inappropriately,

and I would very much rather it did not happen again.

Perhaps I am wrong. In which case, I ask you for forgiveness.

No, you are not wrong.

You are not wrong.

I was anguished and cannot be anything but anguished.

Even now, while I am listening to you, all I'm thinking about is him.

I love him.

I am his mistress.

I cannot stand you, I am afraid of you, I hate you.

Do as you will with me.

But I do demand that you keep up appearances for decency's sake,

until I take the measures necessary to protect my honor,

of which I shall notify you.

No honor, no heart, no religion.

A rotten woman.

Alexei Alexandrovich,

there is only one thing that you need to concern yourself with right now:

to search for the best way to shake off the filth

that this woman splashed you with on her way down

and then to continue your life's journey,

to continue being active, honest, and useful to society.

You are right...

There is no need for me to be unhappy

because of some wretched woman's wrongdoing.

But what am I to do?

My honor.

Daryalov fought in a duel.

Our society is, without a doubt, still so savage

that there would be many who would look on the duel favorably,

but what would you achieve?

Supposing you challenge him.

Supposing you get lessons, you learn how to pull the trigger.

And so it turns out that you've killed him.

What then?

Hm, yes...

What is the point of killing a man

just to settle your stance on your sinful wife.

But an even more likely outcome,

the one that is bound to happen,

is that you are going to get either wounded or killed!

You, an innocent man,

a victim would be either dead or wounded!

That is even more pointless!

You are right.

A duel would be unthinkable, and no-one would expect it from me.

But what then...

A divorce?

An attempt at a divorce will only result in a scandalous court case,

which would delight your enemies and give them a chance to slander you,

to jeopardize your high position in society.

Well then, what else remains?

What should I do?

Alexei Alexandrovich, your goal should be to safeguard the reputation you need

in order to continue your career.

And there is only one way out.

The best way out of the situation she's put you in.

And what is that?

Keep her.

Conceal what happened from society

and take every measure to put an end to this affair.

But my feelings toward her will never be the same as before.

Alexei Alexandrovich...

Do you really want for her to be together with her lover?!

That would mean that she benefits from her own crime.

And you will be pushing her right into Vronsky's arms yourself.

That is impossible.

Alexei Alexandrovich.

Do as I instructed.

And then no-one will have the right to tell you that you did not act

in accordance with the rules of the religion,

the banner of which you always hold high

amongst all those who have grown cold and indifferent.

Lidiya Ivanovna,

I am exceedingly grateful to you.

Both for your words and for your actions.

I must think it all over to make a decision.

Well, we sure got wild last night, didn't get any sleep.

Better tell me what to drink. My mouth tastes so foul that...

Vodka would be best.

Hey, you, bring the Count some vodka and a cucumber!

Vodka, you say?

Will you have a drink?

- If we drink, let's drink together! - No, I'd rather not.

And here you are, back at your counting.

After all of this you're acting like you've been scalded.

Cross as a bloody bear.

No, but what a way to end a party!

Volkov climbed the roof, said he was feeling sad.

And so I say, let's put on some music, a funeral march!

And, picture this,

he fell asleep right there, on the roof, lulled by a funeral march.

Alexei, will you have a drink?

You drink. Vodka is a must, then some Seltzer Water, and lots of lemon.

After that, you can have a little bit of champagne.

- Say, a bottle or so. - Now that's a thought.

A little bit of champagne.

So, have you finished your counting?

Yes.

And I found that I owe seventeen thousand and a couple of hundred.

Well, Your Excellency,

for a man with a hundred thousand income, a debt like this is no burden at all.

- That would be right. - Mhm.

But the thing is I do not have the hundred thousand.

Now, that's new. Where is it then?

You can't have lost all the money gambling!

You barely gamble at all.

There are very few people who know this, but

at one point, my brother, neck-deep in debt, married Varya.

And her father was a Decembrist, meaning that she had no money to her name.

We agreed upon me getting only twenty five thousand a year.

Twenty five thousand a year? Well, pardon me, but I always assumed

that you were spending far more than that.

That is true. My Mother would also give me an additional twenty thousand

or so each year. But now... Being so angry over Anna...

Long story short, she has stopped sending me the money.

I told Anna that leaving her husband would mean being together with me!

But how can I take her away now, when I have no money?

All right, let's assume I could make it happen.

But how can I leave with her when I am still serving?

Making a promise like this means being prepared

that is, having enough money and resigning from service.

My word...

Alexei, I don't want to bother you with my advice on the matter.

Nor do I really have the right to. But is it really worth it,

tearing down your whole life for the sake of a woman.

For me, she is a woman that deserves as much respect

as a lawful wife, more respect even.

And I would sooner have my hand cut off than...

Very well, what are you going to do next?

The main question is whether or not to resign.

Alexei, you are ambitious, you have a bright future.

Decide it for yourself.

Will you be able to throw everything away for the sake of your feelings?

And more importantly. Will she be able to?

- What do you want? - A man has brought this for you.

Lend me your carriage. Mine still needs to be horsed.

Be my guest. Just don't sweat the horses too much.

Help me get dressed.

Don't sweat the horses.

Alexei, I had to see you.

What happened?

Yesterday...

as I was going back home with Alexei Alexandrovich,

I told him everything.

I said that I could not be his wife, that...

And I got it all out.

Yes, yes, that's better.

A thousand times better!

There was only one thing I have longed for, I have begged for:

- to break out of this situation. - Yes, but why are you telling me this?

How could I possibly doubt this?

- That's not what is troubling me. - Is someone coming?

- Perhaps someone who knows us? - What? I don't care about that!

I am trying to tell you...

This is not what's important. Do you understand that now

Please forgive me, but I am so happy about this!

I hope that you'll leave him now?

I hope that you will allow me to think everything over

and to make arrangements for our new life!

- First thing tomorrow morning, I will... - But my son. My son?

Don't you see?!

I will have to leave him behind, and I can't...

I don't want to do that.

Oh, for heaven's sake, what is better?

To leave your son or to continue this lowly existence?

You say lowly...

Please don't call it that. Those words have no meaning for me.

You have to understand, on the day I fell in love with you,

everything changed, everything.

In this life, your love is everything to me.

And if your love is mine, then I feel so... so firm on my feet,

so high up that nothing can make my existence lowly.

I...

I am proud of what I am, because...

I am proud.

But can't you get a divorce?

Can't you be with your son and still leave your husband?

Yes! But...

It is all up to him.

Soon everything will be settled.

But please, please let us not speak of this anymore.

I'm very happy that you came.

How is Sergei?

I won't dine at home today.

And I need to go now.

Alexei Alexandrovich,

I am a foul woman.

I am a wicked woman. But I am still the same as I was.

When I told you all of this.

And I came to tell you

that I cannot change anything.

I wasn't asking you about that.

I have surmised as much.

But, as I said and wrote to you earlier

and as I am repeating to you now,

I do not need to know this. So I am ignoring it.

Not all wives are as kind as you,

gracious enough to hurry to deliver such pleasant news to their husbands.

I shall ignore this for as long as society doesn't know about it,

for as long as my name is not besmirched.

And so all I am doing is warning you

to keep our relationship the same as always.

And only if you do something to compromise yourself,

I shall be forced to take measures to protect my honor.

But my relationship with you cannot stay the same as always.

I cannot be your wife when I...

The life you're leading has affected your worldview.

I despise both so very much.

That said, I do not understand.

How you, with all of your independence,

with the way you boldly announce your infidelity to your husband

and seemingly find nothing objectionable about it.

How you, nevertheless, find it objectionable

to perform your duty as a wife to her husband.

Alexei Alexandrovich! What do you want from me?

I want to never see this man here.

and I want you to behave in a way

that gives both society and the servants no ground to accuse you.

I want you to stop seeing him.

I believe it is not too much.

In exchange, you will enjoy all the rights of an honest wife

without fulfilling any of the obligations.

That is all that I have to say to you.

Now it's time for me to leave. I am dining out.

Come over here.

Come on. Don't be shy.

They've brought in more wounded!

A little help here!

Careful, Nurse.

Hold his head. His head! Hold his head!

What's your name?

Get the bandages ready!

Be careful!

Semyon!

Hello. You are called... what name?

- ... he's gonna die... - ...over here...

- Alexei. - ..over there...

And you?

bring the bandages

My name is Chunsheng.

Chunsheng...

That's a pretty name.

It means something like Spring-Born...

Yes, very pretty.

One quarter Capi-tan, one quarter.

Yes, very well, wait a moment.

Here.

Thank you.