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 7

CHINA. MANCHURIA. 1904

Why hasn’t a Red Cross flag been hung up?

Well you see, sir, we lost it.

I know we did, but why hasn’t it been found yet?

- I want that flag by morning. - Yes, sir!

Sergei Alexeevich, one more seriously injured. A gunshot wound to the chest

- and shrapnel to the temple... - Take him to the operating room,

we’ll see what we can do.

Anna Arkadyevna, your ball!

- One more! - Ahh!

1875

Count, you’re going easy on me! Play at full strength.

Have mercy, Anna Arkadyevna, I’m doing my best. It’s not working.

You should try.

- Alexei, keep our point! - Darya Alexandrovna...

- Alexei, keep score! - ...if you have come to see us,

You are the only woman from Anna’s former friends who has,

is it because you still love her and want to help her?

- Yashvin, come here. - ...is my understanding correct?

- Alexei, please tell! - Yes, of course.

Alexei, you don't have to say anything.

No one understands the difficulty of Anna’s position

more deeply and intensely than I do! And that’s understandable.

I put her in that position, and that’s why I understand it!

- Yashvin, the ball’s in play! - I see that!

Your feeling responsible is exactly why you exaggerate, I'm afraid.

Of course, her social standing is in trouble...

In high society it’s hell!

Here you’re completely happy and free.

I see that Anna is happy, perfectly happy.

It's not that simple. Thank you.

Count, the ball never touched the court.

- You saw it earlier! - That’s my fault.

Yes, I see that she is happy.

My ball.

But can it keep going on like this?

Please!

The die is cast, we are bound for the rest of our lives.

We have a child.

- Count, try your best! - We could still have more children!

Or you’ll lose for sure.

And if I do my best, I won’t lose, Anna Arkadyevna.

- What’s the score? - Have mercy. I would really rather not…

Well, by the law my daughter is not mine.

- This is a complete disaster for me... - ...but Karenin’s!

Now, my son will be born…

My son, who by the law will be a Karenin.

Count... You’ve lost!

He will inherit neither my name nor my property!

And however happy we might be in our home life

and however many children we might have,

- Allow me to lose! - they all will be, Karenin’s!

... with a score like this. This is shameful!

Yes, I understand all that, but...

I’ve tried to talk to Anna about it, but it annoys her.

- She doesn't understand. - You try...

I can’t tell her everything.

I... I’m happy to be loved by her.

- Oomph! - I’m working here,

- and I am pleased with it. I’m happy.- Count, you’ve lost another point!

And our happiness requires nothing more.

Yes, I understand.

Don’t let me lose with such a score...

- It’s a disgrace. - But what can Anna do?

Even to petition the Czar for legitimization, you’ll require a divorce.

- Try! - This will depend on Anna!

Karenin agreed to divorce. And now I know that he wouldn’t refuse.

- All I needed to do was write to him! - Hurrah! That's the end of the game!

I understand that she is suffering.

But the reasons for it are so important that we need to move beyond these.

- How am I going to live now? - Emotional subtleties...

- Saddle up! Lavrenty! - This is about happiness

and future of both her and her children!

Victory! Victory!

I’ll talk to her.

Help!

Why doesn't she think about it?

I'll certainly talk to her. I’ll do it for her and...

- Giddy-up! - ... for myself.

- Pah-parah-parah-pah! - Thank you.

- Pah-pa-parara!... - Yashvin!

- Slow down, Lavrenty! - You’re utterly defeated!

Who could doubt that, Anna Arkadyevna, who could doubt it.

Next time you’re in charge.

The game is over. We have two hours until dinner,

so we need to pass the time somehow!

We can walk through the garden, take the boat out.

- Show Darya Alexandrovna the shore. - Yashvin, what do you think?

Anna Arkadyevna, I'll follow you to the end of the earth.

Thank you.

I think it will be much more pleasant for Dolly to have a walk.

And then, we’ll make a decision about the boat.

- And rightly so! - Take this, Lavrenty. Come along.

- Come along, Darya Alexandrovna. - Anna Arkadyevna!

Alexei is delighted at your visit. He is hopelessly in love with you.

What did you talk about? I know what you were talking about.

We were talking about the things I want to tell you.

About whether it’s possible to change and

- improve your situation. - Do you mean a divorce?

You know how I look at it. But if it is possible, you should marry.

Do you know,

the only woman who associated with me in Petersburg was Betsy Tverskaya?

You know her, don’t you?

As a matter of fact, she is a depraved woman.

She deceived her husband in the basest way. And she!

And she told me that she did not care to know me

while I’m in this improper position!

Don’t imagine that I would compare. I know you, darling.

But I could not help remembering.

Well, so what did he say to you?

He wants first of all to legitimize his daughter.

And to be your husband, to have a legal right to you.

What wife,

what slave could be so utterly a slave as I am in my position?

Most importantly and lawfully...

he wishes that your children should have the name.

- What children? - Anya and other.

He needn’t worry, I won’t be having any more children.

- How can you be sure that you won’t? - I won’t, because I don’t wish it.

Think about it, I have two choices:

either to be pregnant, which is to say stricken,

or to be his friend and companion.

I know, I know...

For you, for other people, there may be cause to doubt.

But for me...

You must consider, I am not his wife.

He will love me for as long as he loves me.

How can I keep his love? With this? Do you think it’s not right?

But you forget my position. How could I want to have children?

No, I’m not speaking of the suffering, I’m not afraid of that.

But think, what are my children to be?

For the very fact of their birth

they will be forced to be ashamed of their mother, their father,

their birth.

But my dear, that is just why a divorce is necessary.

Or is it not possible?

I was told that your husband had agreed.

Dolly!

I don’t want to talk about it!

All right, let’s not. But you look so grim.

Who, me? Not at all. I’m very cheerful and happy.

Look grim! Dolly! You can’t understand.

It’s too horrible!

- I’m trying not to look at it at all. - We must try to do everything we can.

What can I do?

Nothing.

You tell me to marry Alexei, and say I’m not thinking about it.

Not a day, not an hour passes that I don’t think of it,

and blame myself for what I think.

Because thinking of that nature may drive me mad.

You talk about divorce.

But Karenin won’t give it to me.

You must try.

It means that I should humiliate myself by writing to him, while hating him.

Well, suppose I make the effort, and I do it.

Well, suppose... I received his consent.

I receive his consent, but...

what about my son?

They won’t give him back to me.

He will grow up despising me with his father whom I’ve abandoned.

Do you see, I love them equally, I think, but...

both more than myself - Sergei and Alexei!

It is only those two whom I love, and one excludes the other.

I can’t have them together, yet that’s the only thing I want.

And since I can’t have that,

I don’t care about the rest. I don't care anymore.

What can be done, Anna?

It will come to an end... somehow.

That’s why I don’t like at all speaking of it.

So don’t judge me, don’t reproach me for anything.

You can’t with your pure heart understand all that I’m suffering.

I didn’t expect you would be back so soon.

Why don’t you stay? For just one day.

It’s impossible. I promised, and the children.

No need to be sad. I’ll see you again soon.

I’m afraid that after your departure no one else could stir up the feelings

that our conversation has roused in my soul.

It seems to me that it hurts you to stir up these feelings.

But that is the best part of my soul...

Goodbye, Darya Alexandrovna. Thank you for visiting us.

Do come again. Anna and I are always glad to see you.

Goodbye.

I’ll tell you this.

Give such rights as our local institutions

have to any other European people, and the Germans or the English

would have worked their way to freedom with them,

while we simply turn them into ridicule.

It’s typical of us Russians.

Perhaps it’s our strong point, really - the ability to see our own shortcomings.

but we overdo it.

We comfort ourselves with irony, which is always on the tip of our tongues.

In general, there are different views on this matter.

What kind of views?

Well, the views of the Turkish... For example, I’ve heard some say

they don’t need local assemblies or justices of the peace,

and thus don’t want to be involved.

That’s our Russian indifference.

Not realizing the obligations that our rights place upon us.

I, on the contrary, feel very grateful for the honour they have done to me,

thanks to Nicholas Ivanich, appointing me justice of the peace.

Well, I don’t know.

I’m afraid that by availing of your kind-heartedness,

I’ve placed an entirely unwanted burden on your shoulders.

No, I think that for me going to a congress,

discussing the case of a man and a horse is just as important

as anything else I can do.

I'd be honored - to be chosen as a member of the council.

Only by this can I justify the benefits I get as a landowner.

So we can rely upon you, Count, for the congress?

But you must go today, so as to get there by the eighth.

- Mm-hmm. - I fear that lately we’ve had

too many of these public duties.

Just as in the old days there were so many bureaucrats

that one had to call one in for every single thing, now all public figures.

But Anna, you don’t realize that...

The Count has been here for just a month,

and he’s already a member of five or six different public bodies.

Guardianship, a justice of the peace,

a member of the council, a juryman, an equine something.

This way of life will take up all of his time.

You’re exaggerating, Anna Arkadyevna.

And you...

how many are you a member of, Nikolay Ivanovich?

Over twenty, I suppose?

Anna, this...

I’m afraid you just don’t understand that these...

No, tell me. You can see my life.

But you mustn’t forget that you’re seeing us in the summer,

when we are not alone.

Just imagine, I live without him.

Alone!

And it will happen!

I can see that he’ll spend half the time away from home!

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Alexei, why are you so cold to me?

No, not cold exactly. You love me, I know it.

But something new is pushing us apart now.

Sorry, I don’t understand you.

What is happening to you?

You..

You want to prove me that your lo...

You want to prove to me that your love for me

will not interfere with your freedom!

But why prove it to me?

I don't need proof, I need your love!

Anna,

for God’s sake.

Explain to me - what happened?

And this cold, harsh look that you gave me!

You wanted to insult me! And you insulted me to my core!

What?!

What are you saying?

What look? What do you mean?

How did I look at you?

The way you look at me shows me that you’re free,

and I’m humiliated by it!

You always give me to understand that you have the right to leave,

and go whenever and wherever you like! Not just leave, but also leave me!

You have all these rights, while I have none of them!

Anna, dear, it just seemed that way to you.

No!

This look of yours tells me that you’re growing cold!

I can’t change my feelings towards you.

You probably understand that, and that’s why you’ve been acting this way.

Anna, I’m begging you! Stop torturing me!

- Come to your senses! - How can I?

How can I come to senses,

when I understand that you,

Alexei,

That you’re getting tired of me?!

What am I supposed to do?!

I feel like I'm losing my mind!

I'm willing to give my life to make you happy!

Despite this.

I’m happy that you return to me every time.

Yes. Even if you’re tired of me.

But here, with me.

I wish you were here.

When you’re with me, you can’t stop loving me!

When will you get back?

I hope you won’t be bored?

I hope not.

I got a box of books yesterday.

I won’t be bored.

Nikolay Ivanovich, can women become the members of the local assemblies?

Glowing dawn across the sky,

The pink night is going down.

Blushing mist and sunny light Falling safely to the ground.

On the third day, wife of the tsar

Looking pale as moonlight star,

Standing still like drenched in water

Keeps her eyes that shine so softly Through the garden on the road

When the darkness comes to show

Where the dust not long ago

Has been settled and has gone,

And one prairie feather grass

Drifting through the bright blue skies...

- Annushka! - What is it?

- Is the Count not back yet? - No, His Excellency hasn’t arrived yet.

Count Alexei Vronsky is voting!

The State Counseller

Evgeny Fedorovich Zabolotny is voting!

The Court Counsellor Piotr Petrovich Bol is voting.

- Whom did the matter stall on? - On Snetkov.

He has to either refuse or agree.

And so? Has he agreed or not?

That’s the problem: he’s done neither.

And if he refuses, who will stand then?

- He hasn’t shown up. - Whoever would like to.

I see it’s struck something in you, hasn’t it, friend?

It’s like a race. One might bet on it!

Yes, it is very exciting!

And once taking the thing up, one’s eager to see it through.

It’s a fight! Damn it!

I didn’t expect to be so drawn in by elections!

The worst is yet to come.

You know, if I marry,

I myself will run in the next three years!

Much as, after seeing a jockey win a race,

you want to ride a race yourself.

As for me, gentlemen, I’m a little confused.

Honestly, I can’t figure out the meaning of it.

- ... Tretyakov! - What is there to understand?

There’s no meaning in it at all.

It’s a decaying institution that goes on running only by power of inertia.

- ...Kovalyov! - Then why do you come?

- Out of habit, nothing else. - And Who are you anyway?

A landowner. A permanent resident of the country, so to speak.

How is it that you, living constantly in the country,

are not a justice of the peace? You are not in the uniform of one.

It’s because I consider justices of the peace to be a silly institution!

- I don’t think so... - It’s a plaything.

We don’t need justices of the peace.

I’ve never had a single thing to do with them in eight years.

And what business I have had, was wrongly decided by them.

The justice of the peace is over forty miles from me.

For a matter of two roubles or so,

I would have to send a lawyer, who costs me fifteen!

All right, all right. We understand you.

No, no, listen to me! Listen!

A man stole flour from a miller,

and when the miller told him about it, he... No, just think!

A man! He filed a lawsuit for defamation.

And this is your justice of the peace.

Gentlemen, let me speak!

What in the world is this! Flerov is barred from elections!

Why?

Listen... I’ll let you speak.

You’d rather not. We might spill blood.

- Wait, I’ll let you speak... - To a vote!

Put it to a vote and that’s it!

- Who is this Flerov? - Flerov, yes,

we’ve heard of this gentleman.

But he’s already been on trial for a year, you know.

To stand!

Gentlemen, come with me. Lunch will be ready soon.

Gentlemen, stay calm! Gentlemen! Silence!

Quiet! Quiet!

Gentlemen, I cannot tell you how pleased I am!

To the delight of all of us here, I may congratulate you

Nikolay Ivanovich, with your re-election!

I’m happy to call you “Your Excellency” again!

Gentlemen, To the best Provincial leader in Russia!

Gentlemen, I am touched.

Thank you all.

I would like to make a toast to the man without whose help I couldn’t have won!

To Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky!

- Hurrah! - Hurraah! Hurraaah!

Hurrah! Hurrah!

Thank you, Nikolai Ivanovich.

It's a great honor for me.

I’d like to invite you all to a concert arranged by my wife.

Thank you, but that’s not really to my tastes.

Well I say, Alexei Kirillovich.

She’s wanted to meet you for a long time.

- Really, it will all be delightful. - Well, fine. I’ll come.

Your Excellency.

An urgent letter from Vozdvizhenskoye. It’s from Anna Arkadyevna.

What’s in there? Has something happened?

It’s from Anna.

She writes that our daughter is very sick.

She is worried about me, she herself wants to come.

How is Anya?

She’s better.

I’m glad to hear that. And you? Are you well?

I wore myself out without you.

Tell me frankly, were you vexed at getting my letter,

did you not believe me?

Yes, the letter was strange.

First, Anya being ill, and then you thought of coming yourself.

It was all true.

I have no doubt.

No, you do have doubts.

You’re upset, I see it!

Not one more minute.

I’m not happy that you somehow seem unwilling to admit

that I may have my duties.

Duties such as going to visit the leader?!

But Anna!

Do you know what I’ve been thinking of these five days while left alone?

How have I not gone crazy?!

Yes... yes... Anna..

I understand.

I understand all of that.

You should feel a little bit sorry for me.

Five days without you...

I have to go to St. Petersburg for a few days.

You’re going away again?!

I only want to say...

Anna, why are you so irritable?

Don’t you see I can’t live without you?

If you go to Petersburg, then I’m going with you!

I’m not staying here.

We must either separate or live together.

- But you understand... that for this... - Yes, I understand.

I understand that there is another way to get close to you

and make you stay with me.

Divorce and marriage.

You know that’s all that I want.

A divorce is what we need?

I'll write to him!

Now I want it and I agree.

Whatever it takes.

I can’t live like this...

But I’m going to Petersburg with you!

Stay away!

Stop!

Stiva, I'm so glad you stopped by.

Where are you staying?

In my aunt’s old house.

It’s a real mess, but Dolly is getting things in order.

How is Anna?

It’s hard for her, all the uncertainty around the divorce.

And there’s been nothing from Karenin.

Yes, it can drive you crazy. What is she doing?

Does she have anything to keep her occupied?

At the moment there’s an English girl she’s giving all her time to.

What? What girl?

I had an English racehorse trainer who was very good at his job, but a drinker.

So now he has fallen to drink and abandoned his family.

Anna has taken his daughter into her care.

I always knew that Anna, above all, is a woman with a big heart.

And just imagine, she is writing a children’s book.

- A book? - Yes!

She doesn’t talk about it to anyone, but she read it to me

and I gave it to Vorkuev. You know, the publisher.

And he’s an author himself too, I believe.

He says it’s a remarkable piece of work

- Really? - Let’s go to the table...

I think Anna Arkadyevna

spends too much time on these classes with the young English girl.

I think if she could direct even one hundredth of her energy

towards nurturing Russian children,

she would be doing a great service to the motherland.

You do as you wish, but I personally couldn’t.

Count Alexei Kirillovich strongly urged

to take up work in the village school,

but I could not feel any affection for the work.

You are talking about energy.

Energy is based on love!

There’s no forcing it!

I quite understand that.

It’s impossible to give one’s heart to a school,

or any such institution in general,

and I believe that’s precisely

why philanthropic institutions always produce such poor results.

Yes. I don’t have so wide a heart as to love a whole orphanage.

I have never been able to do it.

But I give this child all that I can,

and I have such a connection to this poor girl.

Don’t overfeed her with knowledge.

Does she really need all those subjects you teach her.

Why wouldn’t she?!

But allow me to ask, Count,

why do you have such a lack of respect for women's education?

I didn’t intend to show disrespect,

I... well...

You misunderstood me.

What bothers me is that a girl whom you’ve taken under your wing.

I’m not sure that she has much need for physics classes.

You know,

I don’t expect you to understand me, my feelings,

as anyone who loved me might!

But simple courtesy I did expect!

Yes... You are right.

I have no interest in your obsession with this girl.

It’s true.

That’s because...

because I can see how unnatural it is.

I am very sorry that nothing but the coarse and material

is comprehensible and natural to you!

His cruelty!

The cruelty with which he shatters the world I have built up for myself

so laboriously just to let me endure my hard life!

And he’s the one to blame for it being hard!

Anna, dear,

I think you’re too...

That is not at all what Alexei meant.

Just understand, he accuses me!

Of what, Stiva, of what?!

Of pretending! Of being unnatural!

And therefore, of lying.

Anna, you take words too personally.

- He loves you so much! - I know, I know...

I always feel so lonely...

It feels so painful to quarrel with him.

I want to forget about it, forgive and make peace with him.

But... But he...

- Unnatural! - Anna, Anna!

That word is so hard for you. Why do you talk about it all the time?

I remember not a word he offended me with, but his intention to hurt me!

You see, I know what he meant by that!

He meant unnatural that I don’t love my own daughter,

that I love another person’s child.

Aah!

What does he know of love for children.

of my love for Sergei, who I gave up because of him?

Yes!

But the desire to hurt me is nothing more than that!

Yes, he loves another woman.

- Anna! - It cannot be otherwise.

Anna! Fight, fight your demons. You’re crossing the line.

Yes, yes, yes... He is kind.

He is honest, sincere, and he loves me.

Yes!

I love him.

I’ll get my divorce some day soon.

What else do I need?

I want trust, peace, and...

and I will take it upon myself.

Now when he comes in, I will tell him I was wrong.

Well.

Though it wasn’t my fault.

Yes... I am myself to blame...

I’m irritable, I’m... I’m irrationally jealous...

But I’ll make up with him, and we’ll go away to the village.

- There I shall be more at peace. - Well. Well. Well, good. Isn’t it?

He could try to understand how difficult my life is here!

Am I even living?! I’m not living.

I’m just waiting for the end, but it never comes any closer!

There is no answer!

And you’re telling me that you can’t go to talk to my husband!

And I...

I can’t, I can’t write anymore!

I’ll go. I’ll meet with Karenin...

That’s why I came here to tell you.

- You’re going? - Yes.

Stiva...

If you...

If you see Sergei...

Find out where he is, who he's with.

My goodness, Stiva,

if only that were possible!

Is it possible?