Click HERE to view the film’s official web site
On 29th October 2024, the premiere of the documentary-film «Верные» / The Faithful will take place at the Oktyabr Cinema, located on Novy Arbat in Moscow. This fascinating new 70-minute Russian language documentary explores the lives and fates of the faithful retainers who followed the Imperial Family into exile.
The first part of the film, directed by Natalia Gugueva, presents a chronicle of the life of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, based on materials from the Russian State Archives and the personal photo archives of the descendants of the Imperial Family’s retainers. In addition, rare film footage taken outside the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, will be seen for the first time.
Loyal to the Tsar, faithful to the oath, true to themselves
When Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917, 43 people voluntarily followed him into exile. Among them there was not a single relative of the Tsar and Tsarina.
All 43 loyal subjects were dissuaded, and more than once, from their stubborn decision to remain with the Tsar and his family, first in the Alexander Palace, then into exile to Tobolsk, and then Ekaterinburg. Not only did they share the trials and tribulations of the Imperial Family, many of them paid for their choice with their lives.
The fate of the retainers of Nicholas II is told by their descendants, as well as the descendants of the Bolshevik guards in the Ipatiev House, where the brutal murder of the Imperial Family and four of those loyal to them took place. Others were murdered in other locations in the Urals.
The documentary focuses on the faithful retainers of the Imperial Family, who voluntary followed them into exile: Dr. Eugene Botkin (1865-1918), the maid Anna Demidova (1878-1918), the cook Ivan Kharitonov (1872-1918), and the valet Aloysius Trupp (1856-1918), Klimenty Grigorievich Nagorny (1887—1918), Ivan Dmitriyevich Sednev (1881—1918), Countess Anastasia Vasilievna Hendrikova (1888-1918), Ekaterina Adolfovna Schneider (1856-1918), Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov (1868 – 1918) and Ilya Leonidovich Tatishchev (1859 – 1918).
CLICK on the above image to watch the TRAILER
Duration: 1 minute. Language: Русский / Russian
The film «Верные» / The Faithful, was created by the Vstrecha Studio with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Channel One JSC and with the assistance of the Yekaterinburg Diocese.
The film has already received an award at the 35th Open Documentary Russian Film Festival. The documentary-film will be released in 200 cinemas in more than 40 cities across Russia on 31st October 2024.
NOTE: Sadly, the sanctions imposed by Western nations against Russia have also affected cultural exchanges, including exhibitions, films and documentaries, book rights, ballet and opera events, etc. As a result, it may be some time before an English language version of this documentary is made available. Perhaps, it will made available on YouTube, with English subtitles? It certainly looks like it will be an interesting documentary, one of immense historic importance – PG.
FURTHER READING:
The Fate of the Kornilov House
Tobolsk: Nicholas II and His Family Under House Arrest in Siberia
© Paul Gilbert. 25 October 2024
Nicholas II 
You must be logged in to post a comment.