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 5

Very restless.

SAINT-PETERSBURG. 1874

Maybe the wet-nurse doesn’t have enough milk?

Why didn’t you say anything?

Who would I say it to?

Anna Arkadyevna is still so unwell.

We must send for a doctor.

- Mama, Mam! - Yes, sweetie.

Do you know that Papa got an Order of Alexander Nevsky?!

Yes, I do.

People have already been coming here to congratulate him.

- So is he happy? - Why wouldn’t he be happy...

This order is well-deserved.

Hey Vasily Lukich,

did you know that my Papa got an Alexander Nevsky order?

Could you please tell me, Vasily Lukich,

what’s higher than the Order of Alexander Nevsky?

That would be the Order of Saint Vladimir.

And higher than that?

The highest order of all is Saint Andrew The First-Called.

And what’s higher than Andrew?

- I don’t know... - Really?

You don’t know that either? And you, Mama?

His Excellency.

- Did you have a good walk? - Yes, Papa, it was really fun.

I saw Nadenka.

She said you’d been given a new award. Are you happy, Papa?

Well, first of all, will you kindly stop chattering.

And second of all, the main prize is not the award but the hard work.

And I would like you to understand that.

For instance, if you are working on your studies for the sake of a reward,

your work will seem hard and tedious.

But if you love your work, it will be a reward in itself.

I trust you understand this?

Yes, Papa.

Very well, go to your room.

You still have to go over your assignments for tomorrow.

I’ll check in on you later.

How’s little Sergei?

It would be a lie to say that he is not a gifted boy.

Quite the contrary - he has far more talent than many other children.

But he is so bad at his studies.

But he’s just nine years old. He is still a child.

I believe that he simply does not want to learn the things he is being taught.

He seems to be somehow cold towards those key matters

that should concern every man and every child.

Maybe he is just unable to learn these things.

unable because his heart craves something that is more essential to him

than what his teachers are forcing him to learn.

Try a seconde under the arm, then a riposte.

Attack! Seconde under the arm!

Steady your wrist, Count.

Hold upward for a moment, then quarte! Hit!

Mind the arm! Do not shift your arm, Count!

Degage upward... then quarte again!

Hit! The arm... Hold the arm, Count!

Steady your wrist. Degage upward...

Now quarte... And hit!

Quarte. And riposte to the chest. Touche.

Excellent.

You’re back in shape, Count. But do not forget your legs.

Because legs ensure distance, ensure safety.

You are, as always, Your Excellency, doing admirably.

I’ve already heard about you...

I mean, about you refusing your new position and...

and leaving the regiment.

Have you handed in your notice already?

- Mm-hm. - I approve, of course.

But there are certain ways of doing things.

And I think that while your actions are good in and of themselves

you are not doing it the way it should be done.

What’s done is done. And besides, I am feeling marvelous!

Marvelous for the time being.

But you are not going to be satisfied with this.

Not to mention, we need people like you!

- Who’s we? - Who’s we? Society.

Russia needs worthy men, otherwise it will all go to the dogs.

We need a ruling party made out of independent people like you and me.

You and I know so many people in power.

They are not independent at all, are they?

Only because they don’t have the things that we were born into:

the independent status, a name of their own,

the proximity to the sun.

And one more thing!

They are easy to buy either with money or with flattery.

But you are definitely better.

Maybe I’m worse, more stupid,

but I can’t see why I should be any less special than they are.

And besides, I believe that I have one key advantage...

in that I am - we are! - harder to buy off.

Still, I lack the one thing that is crucial for this.

I lack the lust for power.

I used to have it, but not any longer.

Well pardon me, but you’re wrong. Please, please do not interrupt me!

This is what I came to see you for. You did what had to be done.

I understand that but...

All I ask of you is carte blanche. Come back to the army.

Come with me to Tashkent. There’s a war out there.

And so many opportunities!

I swear, you will be a general in just two years!

I want you to understand that I don’t need anything!

Listen, you and I are of the same age.

Maybe you have known more women than I have.

And here’s my honest opinion:

women are the main hurdle in a man’s path.

It is very hard to make anything of yourself

when you are in love with a woman.

There is only one remedy if you want to love someone

without discomfort or hindrance: marriage.

Without marriage, though...

Just look how many men have led their career to ruin because of women.

You have never been in love.

Perhaps. But consider:

women are far more material than men.

We turn love into something magnificent and tremendous,

and they always make it lowly and base.

So, are you giving me carte blanche?

Let’s talk of this later.

I will find you.

Although, do what you think is best.

I consent to this. I shall go to Tashkent.

Who’s here?

Countess Yelizaveta Feodorovna Tverskaya.

- But your husband must be above it all. - I do not want this for my husband,

I want this for myself. Don’t say such things!

Yes, but surely, you cannot be unwilling to say goodbye to a man

who tried to shoot himself because of you.

That is precisely what I’m unwilling to do.

I’m happy to see you home.

You never show your face anywhere, I haven’t seen you since Anna fell sick.

I have heard all about how you cared for her.

You are a wonderful husband!

- How is your health? - I think I’m feeling better.

And I think we’ve been chatting far too much.

It makes me feel like an egoist; I am leaving.

No, please stay, I have something to say to you...

No, to you.

I cannot and will not keep any secrets from you.

Betsy said that Count Vronsky wanted to visit us

to say goodbye before departing for Tashkent.

And I said that I could not receive him.

You said, my friend, that it was up to your husband.

No, no, I simply cannot receive him, nothing will ever...

I just...

I don’t want to...

I greatly appreciate your trust.

Goodbye, my precious.

Mr. Karenin!

I know you to be a truly selfless man.

I may be a stranger but I love your wife and respect you so much

that I shall take the liberty of giving you advice.

Please accept it.

Alexei is honor personified, and since he is leaving for Tashkent.

Countess, I thank you for your concern and for your advice.

But whether or not my wife will be able to receive someone is for her to decide.

Goodbye.

Ah! Countess!

I am so pleased to meet you! I visited your home, you know.

This meeting may only last a minute, I was just leaving.

Something needs to be done.

He will drive her into her grave. This is impossible, just impossible.

You are her brother. Only you can help her.

I am happy that you think so. This is precisely why I came to St. Petersburg.

It’s all anyone in the city can talk about.

The situation is just impossible! She is wasting away.

He simply fails to understand that she is a woman

for whom feelings are no joking matter.

There are two things that could happen:

either he takes her away, takes energetic action!

Or she gets a divorce!

- This is stifling her. - Yes, yes... This is what I am here for.

Well, not exactly. I have been appointed chamberlain.

Karenin pulled some strings, so I have to thank him.

But yes, doing this is the main thing.

Well then, Godspeed.

I must thank you for the trust you’ve put in me.

And for the decision you’ve made.

I also believe that, since he is leaving,

there is no need for Count Vronsky to come here.

- Although... - Well, I have had my say,

what’s the use repeating?

Let us never speak of this again.

Having entrusted you with making a decision on this matter,

- I am very happy to see that... - That my wishes coincide with yours.

Yes.

Countess Tverskaya is meddling in the most delicate family affairs

in an exceedingly inappropriate fashion. She is especially...

I do not believe a word of what they are saying about her.

I know that she sincerely loves me.

- I have just sent for a doctor. - I’m well.

What would I need a doctor for?

No, the baby has been screaming again...

The wet-nurse ended up not having much milk, after all.

Well, why didn’t you allow me to nurse her,

even though I begged you to? But what does it matter:

she’s just a baby, and now they will starve her to death!

I asked you to let me nurse, was not allowed to,

- and now I am the one being chastised. - I was not chastising you...

Yes you were!

Oh dear God! Why didn’t I just die!

Forgive me.

I’m all on edge, it’s unfair.

But please leave.

There is no need for a visit from a man

who wants to say goodbye to the woman he loves.

To the woman whose sake he wanted to die for,

whose sake he ruined himself for.

To the woman who cannot live without him.

No need at all.

No, it cannot go on like this.

Hello there, Alexei Alexandrovich!

So, how is...

Why does everyone keep watching me and expecting something?

What?

I can see quite clearly that the entire high society,

and my wife too, are demanding something from me.

And I cannot fathom what exactly.

I can feel that.

A moment longer and I will not be able to stand

against the revulsion that I can read on the faces of everyone whom I meet.

I can’t understand what’s going on with you.

They will destroy me,

they will tear me apart like dogs.

My only salvation is to hide my wounds from them.

Soon, I will be unable to continue this losing battle at all.

Forgive me.

I think I have not been feeling well lately.

I heard that women are supposed to keep loving men even for their vices,

but I hate him for his virtue.

You have to understand, the very sight of him has a physical effect on me,

I lose my temper just by looking at him.

I cannot.

I cannot live with him.

What should I do?

I don’t know if you see it, but even knowing that he is a kind, admirable man,

that I am not worth a single hair on his head.

I still hate him.

I hate him for his charity.

And there is nothing left for me but...

You are sick

and irritable.

Please believe me, that’s a terrible over-exaggeration,

there is nothing catastrophic about this.

No, Stiva, I am finished.

No, I am worse than finished.

I am not quite finished yet,

I cannot say, “There, it’s all over”.

Quite the opposite...

I can feel that it’s not over.

I am like a taut string that is about to snap.

The end has not yet come.

And when it does, it will be terrifying.

What you need to do is loosen the string, little by little.

There’s no situation that does not have a way out.

I have given it a lot of thought,

and there is only one way out.

You cannot see your situation the way I see it.

Let me be quite frank about what I think.

You have married a man twenty years your senior.

You did not marry him for love.

or perhaps you had never known love.

I would say that this was a mistake.

- A horrible mistake. - But a fait accompli nonetheless.

And then you had a...

You loved a man who was not your husband.

That was unfortunate, but also a fait accompli.

There is only one thing left to settle:

do you want to keep living with your husband? Is that your wish?

Is that his wish?

No, you still don’t understand.

I feel myself plummeting headfirst into an abyss,

but I should not save myself... I cannot.

We will break your fall, we will catch you.

I understand, you can’t put your wishes and feelings into words.

There is nothing that I wish for...

Except for all of this to be over.

He can sense that, he can understand that.

Do you really think that he is not burdened by it?

You are suffering, he is suffering, but what’s the point?

A divorce, on the other hand, will set you free.

I did not want it solely

because I thought of it as unattainable happiness.

I am terribly sorry for both of you!

And how happy would I have been had I done it!

Divorce.

Yes, divorce. Trust me, this is your best way out.

It is very simple for spouses in your situation.

Everything that you consider “very simple”

I have already thought over thousands upon thousands times.

And from where I stand, it is not only far from “very simple”,

- it is simply impossible. - But what exactly bothers you?

I cannot assume the blame for adultery that I never committed.

And on the other hand, I cannot allow for my wife,

the wife that I have forgiven, the wife that I love,

to be publicly accused and shamed.

And besides, what will happen to our son if we divorce?

Should I leave him with his mother?

But that is impossible..

She is going to have a family of her own,

where his status and upbringing as a stepson will likely do him harm.

- Well, you have him then... - Claim my son for myself?

But that would be as revenge on my part, and I do not want that.

Everything can be settled... negotiated...

Yes, but if I concede to a divorce, I will ruin Anna’s life. Irrevocably.

After all, she will have to live as a divorcee,

she will bind herself to him,

and this bond will be unlawful and criminal, because the church dictates

that a woman with a living husband cannot get remarried.

You say the oddest things...

- “She will bind herself to him”... - Yes, yes... she will.

And after a year or two, either he will abandon her,

or she will get a new lover.

And then I, through agreeing to this unlawful divorce,

shall be responsible for her downfall!

But she does not want anything.

She does not even dare ask for it, she trusts in your generosity.

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

And if anyone wants to take your coat, hand over your shirt as well.

Yes, yes!

I will take all the shame upon myself, I will even give away my son!

In any case, do as you will. I agree to everything.

Vronsky! Vronsky!

Watch out!

Hey Vronsky, want to know the difference between me and the Tsar?

Pardon me, what?

When the Tsar grants a divorce, nobody feels better,

and after I did so, three people started feeling better.

What are you talking about?

I am so happy that I’ve done this.

For I’m certain that Karenin will not go back on his word.

What word? What are you talking about?

Karenin has agreed to a divorce, you will be able to see her now.

I have missed you so much...

I have missed you so much.

I still don’t know what he will do with my Sergei.

Don’t speak of this... Don’t think of this...

Karenin did not give Anna custody of their son.

We took our daughter with us and went travelling across Europe.

For the first time, we reveled in freedoms we had never known before,

especially the freedom to love.

You are full of life again.

You know, this new life you and I are having is so blissful

that I feel guilty about being so happy.

I am happy as well...

The more I learn about you, the more I love you!

Please, just don’t interrupt me!

I love you both for being you.

And for loving me.

I am impossibly happy when you are near me...

Please, never, ever leave me.

Anna, I would never want to leave you.

I’m also so very happy to be next to you.

All the traits of your character that I’m getting to know

are growing more and more dear to me, more than I can describe.

Everything you say, do, and think has some special noble,

sublime quality about it.

Anna, your odd reverence towards me simply frightens me.

I myself am often frightened by it.

Sometimes I get filled with dread,

I dare not show that I realize how beneath you I am.

If you see that, you will stop loving me!

And there is nothing that I fear more than you growing cold towards me.

But Anna, you...

I myself fear imagining how I could possibly fall out of love with you.

I care for you, I live for you.

You and your love are the only things I have left.

If you doubt my feelings, we can affirm them by marriage.

But you yourself do not want a divorce.

I completely fail to understand you sometimes.

Please understand...

What I did inevitably made Karenin unhappy.

But I do not want to use this unhappiness to my advantage.

I am suffering as well, and I will keep on suffering.

- What for? - Ah, please, let it rest!

I have decided that I should deprive myself

of everything I used to hold most dear.

And so I am depriving myself of my honest name, and...

and my son!

But Anna! Why don’t you want to just...

Because I have wronged him and for that,

I do not deserve happiness, I do not deserve a divorce.

I shall let myself suffer from shame and from being apart from my son!

Yes, this is what she said.

“I have made Karenin unhappy, I have wronged him;

CHINA. MANCHURIA. 1904

and for that, I shall let myself suffer from shame

and from being apart from my son!”.

I wonder...

Did you really love her?

I took a bullet because of her.

- And after she died, I went to war. - No, that’s not what I meant.

You can take a bullet, you can seek death at a war...

What I mean is something different:

did you love her in all earnestness?

Like she loved you?

Have you ever asked this question to yourself?

- I have. - So what is your answer?

I bought a pipe from the Chinese girl.

What a peculiar thing.

My father did so much for me...

And, in truth, I was never truly attached to him.

I did love my mother, though.

I loved her passionately.

You know, I had better get going.

There is still so much to do.

Good night.

How is your son, how is our little angel?

I cannot say that I am particularly pleased with him.

We have to talk about a matter that will sadden you.

There is nothing that I would not give in order to rid you of unhappy memories,

but not everyone thinks the same way.

I have received a letter from her.

She is here, in St. Petersburg.

She wants to see her son.

I have been expecting this.

And I do not believe I have a right to deny her.

My dear friend! You do not see evil in anyone!

Quite the contrary, I see that there is evil in everything.

But is that just?

True. Still, everything has its limits.

I can understand vice, but I cannot understand cruelty!

And to whom?! To you!

But who is to cast the stone?

I have forgiven her for everything,

so I cannot deprive her of her need for love - love towards her son.

But is this really love, my friend?

Is this really sincere?

Let us assume that you have forgiven her.

But do we really have the right

to have an effect on the soul of this little angel?

Your son thinks her dead.

He prays for her.

He begs the Lord to forgive her sins.

It’s better that way!

And if you do this, what will he think?

I have not considered it.

No, if you’re really seeking my advice, I don’t advise you to do this.

Do you think I don’t see how you are suffering,

how this has re-opened your old wounds?!

And besides, what can it lead to?

To new pain for you and torment for your child?

No, if she still has a shred of humanity left,

she herself should not be willing to do this.

And if you permit me...

I shall write to her...

All they want is to insult me! And to torture my child.

Do they really think I shall submit to them?!

Never!

She is worse than I. At least I do not tell lies!

Is it not natural: just to see my son, since I happen to be in the same city?!

Anna, please understand, right now in your...

our current situation,

This will be rather difficult to arrange.

And what exactly is so difficult?

Wait, do you want to go directly to his house?

They may not let you in...

or - I dread the very thought! - they may insult you

And besides, you may see the boy’s father in there.

Anna, if you really want to see your son so much,

all you have to do is find out where he goes for his walks.

No, but how can you not see

that just watching my son take a walk is not enough for me!

I have been looking forward to this meeting so much,

I have so much to tell him. I just want to kiss him, to hold him...

He is my child!

And the most horrible thing is that you seem to treat me meeting with my son

like the least important thing of all.

Anna, how can you say that?!

- I love you, and that means that... - I know that you will never,

ever be able to understand the depths of my suffering,

and I know that I will come to hate you

for the coldness with which you mention it!

And that is what I fear most in the world.

So from now on, you will not ask me any more questions.

About anything concerning my son...

Can you do that?

Sergei, my love!

- Mama... - My dear boy!

Mama! I knew it.

It’s my Birthday today. I knew you’d come.

Why are you crying? Mama?

I’m crying because I’m happy.

I haven’t seen you for so long. I won’t cry any more.

Well, now it’s time for you to get dressed.

How do you get dressed without me? How...

I don’t wash myself with cold water anymore.

Papa doesn’t want me to.

But what did you think about me? You didn’t really think I was dead?

- I never believed it! - You didn’t, my boy?

I knew!

Hey, Mama... what a fall me and Nadenka had today.

- What? - It was a great fall!

We fell down the hill, you see...

Yes, I see, dear...

Just imagine, we slid three times and turned over three times, too!

Anna Arkadievna! He’s coming.

My sweetheart!

My precious, precious Kutik!

You won’t forget me, will you?

Papa’s not coming just yet. Please don’t go.

Sergei, my dear...

please love him, he is better,

better and kinder than I am...

I have done him wrong.

You will judge for yourself when you grow up.

No-one is better than you!

Oh, Sergei... my dearest...

Dry it off. Wash and dry it off.

Hands.

One moment.

That’s it.

Hand me the saw.

Here’s the saw.

The mirror.