Aleksandr Titorenko

Praised for its fine photography and production design if not its narrative, Sergei Bondarchuk directed this adaptation of the tale by Alexander Pushkin. Boris Godunov came to the Czarist throne at the end of the 16th century, after the original heir to Ivan the Terrible had died. At first, things went well for Godunov (played by Bondarchuk), but when the Russian people began to believe he had killed Ivan the Terrible's son in order to gain the throne, an alliance sprang up against the new Czar. Events continued to spin out of control as a young monk was presented as the son Godunov had supposedly killed. Now he was openly accused of failing an assassination attempt, which seems to be even worse than succeeding. In addition to these woes, Boris Godunov began to suffer serious health problems. So much for the joys of kingship.

When a charming crook sold fake archaeological treasures to a naive foreigner, he did not know what he was doing: an overseas guest turned out to be the director of a Russian-American pasta factory. The deceived American angrily orders his guard to find a thief. Unhappy fraudster awaits terrible punishment.

Despite her parents' ban, 20-year-old Faina Feldman is going to conquer theatrical Moscow. The capital greets her with hostility, but Faina doesn't care much, especially since real friends and mentors appear in her life who teach, help, and patronize. Every minor success is followed by a serious life drama. Revolution, then war... and each time there is a serious struggle for life, which is based on fragile hope, a great love for the theater and absolute faith in one's own destiny.