Tsar (2009)

In 16th-century Russia in the grip of chaos, Ivan the Terrible strongly believes he is vested with a holy mission. Believing he can understand and interpret the signs, he sees the Last ... See full summary »

Director:

Pavel Lungin

Writers:

Aleksei Ivanov (screenplay), Pavel Lungin

Stars:

Pyotr Mamonov, Oleg Yankovskiy, Ramilya Iskander

5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Pyotr Mamonov	...	Ivan The Terrible
Oleg Yankovskiy	...	Metropolitanate Philipp
Ramilya Iskander	...	Mariya Temryukovna
Anastasiya Dontsova	...	Masha
Aleksandr Domogarov	...	Aleksei Basmanov
Aleksandr Ilin	...	Fedka Basmanov
Ville Haapasalo	...	Heinrich Staden (as Ville Khaapasalo)
Aleksey Frandetti	...	Kai-Bulat
Ivan Okhlobystin	...	Vassian
Yuriy Kuznetsov	...	Malyuta Skuratov
Aleksey Makarov	...	General Kolychev
Andrey Bronnikov	...	Ilidor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aleksandr Lobanov	...	Mitka Pleshcheev
Aleksandr Makarov	...	Voevoda Buturlin
Artyom Mazunov

Storyline

In 16th-century Russia in the grip of chaos, Ivan the Terrible strongly believes he is vested with a holy mission. Believing he can understand and interpret the signs, he sees the Last Judgment approaching. He establishes absolute power, cruelly destroying anyone who gets in his way. During this reign of terror, Philip, the superior of the monastery on the Solovetsky Islands, a great scholar and Ivan's close friend, dares to oppose the sovereign's mystical tyranny. What follows is a clash between two completely opposite visions of the world, smashing morality and justice, God and men. A grand-scale film with excellent leading roles by Mamonov and Yankovsky. An allegory of Stalinist Russia.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | russian history | ivan the terrible | 16th century | brutality | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Rezo Films [France]

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

4 November 2009 (Russia)

Also Known As:

Car

Filming Locations:

Suzdal, Vladimir province, Russia

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,474,562

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pavel Lungin Studio, Profit Cinema International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

On 32nd minute a herald mentioned in his announcement current year as "1566" (according to Julian Calendar), although Julian calendar was introduced in Russia only in 1700 by Peter the Great. Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1918 after the Revolution.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)

User Reviews

Power and thirst of holiness

Basic story. About power and faith. About power as expression of faith. About limits, fear and selfish. Impressive fragment of Russian history, it is, in fact, a parable. With wonderful cast and impressive images. Oleg Yankovskiy in his last role. Peter Mamonov as dark side of Father Anatoli from Ostrov. And the ambition of Pavel Lungin to say never death truth.Like a diamont, this movie has many faces. So, the first contact is only a sketch. Different impressions, heavey images, a new Mamonov, a short travel in history book to remind details about central character. Then, the waters are clear. The lights and the story , the dark isles and the splendid slices are nuances of same carpet. Ivan the Terrible is a fragile sinner built in self. And the gill, protect by Holy Virgin, the jester, the metropolitan, the hysterical wife - pieces of God presence in a desert without hope.