RASPUTIN
Russia/France, 2011, 120 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant, Vladimir Mashkov.
Directed by Josee Dayan.
The story of Rasputin as been told many times in film and on television.
Rasputin was a significant figure in Russia in the early decades of the 20th century, a combination of healer and religious charlatan, the confidant of the Tsarina Alexandra and advising the Tsar Nicholas. He was brutally murdered, killing taking some time and effort as he refused to die, by elitist families and the military.
This film is a French-Russian? co-production. There are two French stars, Russian locations, Russians supporting cast and French director. The film has the great advantage of location filming in Russia, especially in Saint Petersburg and its magnificent buildings.
John Barrymore played Rasputin in the 1932 Rasputin and the Empress, starring with his family, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore. Christopher Llee played Rasputin in a 1966 Hammer Studios drama, with touches of horror. Alan Rickman was an intriguing Rasputin in the television movie of the 1990s. This time he is played by Gerard Depardieu. Depardieu, despite his idiosyncratic appearance and size, has been able to portray a wide range of real life characters, Danton, Alexandre Dumas , as well as fictitious characters like Jean Valjean and the Count of Monte Cristo.
Fanny Ardant portrays Alexandra, although she is much too old for the role. However, she does it convincingly.
The film opens with the killing of the tsar and his family and goes back and forwards in time from the birth of the heir, Alexei, and Rasputin’s beginning his ministry to developments in Russian politics, to the outbreak of World War I, to Rasputin’s healings and political interventions and to his death.
1. A new version of the career and death of Rasputin? The film tradition, drama, horror, television movie? This co-production made for television? Russian background? French?
2. The interest in Rasputin himself? The mystery of his origins, as a person, his influence, religion, healing, political influence, his murder?
3. The French-Russian? co-production? The cast? The locations? Saint Petersburg, the palaces, the beauty, exteriors, lavish interiors? The Russian countryside? Visualising the war? The musical score, classic style?
4. Gerard Depardieu as Rasputin? His look, appearance? The opening, rough, the peasant, preaching, permissive, the heretic, religious background, village life, family? Credible origins?
5. The structure of the film: the time shifts, the early years for Rasputin, the birth of Alexei, the years of World War I, the presence of Rasputin at court, influence? The climax of his execution?
6. The interconnection of times, Rasputin’s origins, the birth of Alexei, the blood, baptism? The care? The future star?
7. The court, the families, the courtiers? Nicholas and Alexandra, the children, the girls, Alexei, the care? Alexandra and her German background? Suspicions? Nicholas’ devotion to her?
8. Rasputin emerging from the countryside, preaching, permissive about sex, the woman listening to him, reporting him, the hearing, support for him? His explanations, his voices, the voice of God, his inability to write? The encounter with Maria, consoling her grief? The wisdom and compassion of his words?
9. Rasputin and skill in saying the right things to people, a spirituality, care, the mystery of his debauchery and the many sequences of his drinking and womanizing? Yet his capacity for healing?
10. The range of healings, his manner, Maria and the women, their admiration for him, the countess taking him to the court, tenderness with Alexei, the discussion about the horse, horse’s language? Alexei’s trust? His parents, watching, the effect? Rasputin and his medal of San Simeon? Giving it to the empress? The trust?
11. Rasputin and his talking with the emperor, as a confidant of the emperor, explaining the peasants and their needs?
12. Politics in Saint Petersburg, the emperor listening to his uncle, to the generals? The family in opposition, the mother, enmity with Rasputin?
13. Rasputin and his behaviour? Capacity for drinking? Women, the inns, the dancing, his lack of control, considering himself a sinner?
14. The concert, news of the assassination in Sarajevo? The outbreak of the war? The advice of the military? The only countries to survive will be aggressive countries? The emperor signing the decree?
15. Rasputin and his visit to the emperor, urging him not to sign, the explanations? The emperor and his hesitating, phoning, the decree published?
16. The drama of the war, Nicholas going to the front, his phone calls, Alexandra and her advice? People considering Rasputin as the German spy? Suspicions of Alexandra and her German perspective?
17. The visuals of the war, the massacre of the troops? Alexandra working as a nurse?
18. The hostile family and the discussions? Going to the inn, the background of homosexual relationships, the failed marriage, cross-dressing, the dance with Rasputin? The mother, her influence, the military supporting her?
19. Papers, attitudes towards Alexandra? The dossiers? Towards Rasputin?
20. His sense of prophecy, the healing of countess and her accident? Prophesying his death?
21. Felix, pretending to consult Rasputin, the visit, the warnings? Preparing the poison, the cakes, the attack on Rasputin? His eating, not affected? The shooting? Felix and his passion, his decision to kill Rasputin? The shots, the car, taking into the river, his being alive in the car, the visuals of his drowning?
22. The consequences for Russia, the revolution, the initial visualising of the Bolsheviks and their marshaling the family, executing them all in the cellar?
23. Rasputin as a significant 20th century character?
