From the history of Russia and the CIS, everyone has the lips of the Great Patriotic War and World War II, while the events of the beginning of the 20th century remain less known. Few people know about them, because of which incidents often arise with the undeserved rehabilitation of some historical figures and the erection of monuments to them or the hanging of plaques. This is partly due to the unpopularity of the topic in media culture. The “Death of an Empire” project, launched in 2005, helps to partially correct this. The series, whose actors were recruited mainly from among theater artists, was liked by many history buffs, although it still remained little-known among other films.
This is a project for which it is not a shame in historical terms, where there are a number of inaccuracies, but at least they do not cause rejection when viewing. The television series, immersed in that era thanks to elaborate costumes and scenery, brings something new to the cinema. The Doom of the Empire project is a series, actors and roles in which really correspond to the historical era shown. It is inexpensive and delivered, as it is fashionable to say today, “on its knees”. But this is a Russian project about our history, which everyone is recommended to familiarize with for general development. He will not provide comprehensive archival information, but he will teach to understand that era.
The plot basis of the series
The painting “The Death of an Empire” is a series whose actors revived an entire era on the screen. It fits into the chronological framework of the beginning of the XX century. The main character is Captain Kostin, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese War, who now serves in counterintelligence. He was entrusted with the disclosure of espionage intentions and the suppression of terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg. On the eve of World War I, his task was becoming increasingly difficult, as clouds were gathering heavily over the capital of the Russian Empire.
Employees of the German embassy are increasingly seen in espionage conspiracies and try to smuggle Russian military secrets to their homeland. After the outbreak of World War I, the series tells how intelligence works at the front and how important it is for the successful conduct of the war.
The main actors of the series
The motion picture "Death of an Empire" is a series for which the best, albeit not the most popular actors have been selected. Their task was the embodiment of that era and participation in the life of the state. The most important character is the counterintelligence captain Sergei Pavlovich Kostin. He was successfully played by the charismatic Alexander Baluev, who very naturally got used to the role of the military.
All possible assistance was rendered to him by such characters as the young lieutenant Stolts Ivan Karlovich and the more experienced non-commissioned officer Nikolai A. Strelnikov. The first was played by Marat Basharov, and Andrei Krasko acted as a more experienced counterintelligence colleague.
Minor Characters
One of the main roles was played by Sergei Makovetsky, who embodied on the screen the character of Nesterovsky Alexander Mikhailovich. In the series, he is a professor of law and the captain of army intelligence after a general mobilization on the occasion of the declaration of war by Germany. His wife is Nesterovskaya Olga Semenovna, whose role was played by the unsurpassed Chulpan Khamatova.
In the series “Death of the Empire”, the actors mentioned above play the roles of representatives of officials. Their life is shown very reliably and in general corresponds to the realities of that time. Particularly noteworthy are the actions carried out by counterintelligence. Although they are far enough from reality, they look very entertaining. Although the international intrigues in the series are also shown very simply and one-sidedly, they do not allow ambiguity. This is very valuable for the series, as it does not provide the basis for the misinterpretation of the intentions of its creators.
Real historical characters
In the series “Death of the Empire”, the actors mentioned above played fictional characters for whom there was no place in the history. However, the screen managed to embody real historical figures. This is Vladislav Galkin in the role of Nikitin, who served as chief of counterintelligence. General Renenkampf, so unsuccessfully acting at the beginning of the war against the German troops, was played by Sergey Nikonenko. Lavra Georgievich Kornilov was played by Alexander Bashirov.
Warlords and revolutionaries
The commander of Anton Ivanovich Denikin and Lieutenant General Dukhonin Nikolai Nikolaevich were played by Fedor Bondarchuk and Dmitry Pevtsov, respectively. General Brusilov Aleksei Alekseevich was successfully implemented by Alexander Mezentsev. Also in the 2005 series “Death of the Empire”, revolutionaries such as Uritsky Moisei Solomonovich, played by Alexander Vontov, Steklov Yuri Mikhailovich, played by Yuri Tsurilo, Viktor Bychkov as Yakub Ganetsky, Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya, embodied on the screen by Valentina Kasyanova, appeared on the screens.
Integrity of the narrative
Realism and truthfulness - this is captivating by the series “Death of the Empire”, the actors of which really tried to get used to the roles of their characters in order to help the viewer understand what was happening in this unkind hour for the Fatherland. It feels the drama and hopelessness of the circumstances in which the Russian Empire found itself. And what is very important, the atmosphere of the narrative is such that the series does not feel the immediate presence of the autocrat. This is very subtly conveyed by the series “The Death of an Empire”, all of which are dispensed with without the direct presence of the emperor. In fact, approximately the same situation prevailed at that time, because Nicholas II himself was far from the people.