«Empire. The Beginning» is a six-part cycle of historical dramas directed by Vitaly Melnikov, starring Oleg Yankovsky, Viktor Sukhorukov, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Oleg Tabakov, and many other stars of Russian cinema.
The trilogy is based on real historical facts from the lives of three august personages of the Russian Empire—Tsarevich Alexei, Catherine II, and Paul I. The feature movies depict three stages in the rise and formation of a great state, touch upon the country’s foreign policy in the 18th century and, of course, palace intrigues.
The first movie of the trilogy, «Tsarevich Alexei», tells of the difficult relationship between Peter I and his eldest son, as well as the subsequent fate of the Russian throne. The second movie recounts the story of Empress Catherine II’s ascent to the throne and her struggle for power, as well as the scandalous incident involving Princess Tarakanova, who spent the rest of her life in confinement. The movie concluding the trilogy, «Poor, Poor Paul», tells of the difficult fate and tragic death of one of the most enigmatic rulers.
