This story can't be told enough and not too many times in too varying interpretations, because just the facts are extremely difficult to interpret. Robert Massie's novel "Nicholas and Alexandra" came very close to encompassing something of the whole picture of the truth, especially as the author himself had a child suffering from hoemophilia, which imported some important empathy into the story of destiny, on which famous book the film of 1971 was made; but in this version you have more outstanding actors: Greta Scacchi for one, gives a very convincing and empathic portrait of the Empress, while of course the prize winner in this film is Alan Rickman as Rasputin - I have never seen Rasputin more convincing in any film. I think his daughter, Maria Rasputin, who wrote a biographyy of her father, would have appreciated Alan Rickaman's realization of the character as well. Then we have David Warner as the doctor and Ian McKellen as the last tzar - always a rewarding part for any actor to play, and impossible to make it wrong or bungled. The scenography is also very convincing and truthful, and above all, giving the leading part to the boy, the hoemophilic tsarevich, is a masterstroke - he is the one who tells the story here, and the perspective is overwhelmingly appropriate. I loved this film as I loved the book and the story, and the case of the last martyred tzar and his family is a case for eternity.
Rasputin
(1996 TV Movie)
Enough can never be said about this tragedy of the fate of Russia
2 January 2020