Tsarskaya okhota – The tsar’s hunt

Grand historical feature which provides its own version of the true-life story of the mysterious fate of Princess Elizabeth Tarakanova.îThis story and the film are set in the Russia of Catharine the Great. The ‘Empress of all the Russias’ discovered the umpteenth plot against her person. The Polish aristocracy has approached the beautiful princess and pretender to the throne Tarakanova in her home in Italy. To face this threat, the empress called on one of her most faithful courtiers, the admiral of the fleet, Count Alexei Orlov, who had earlier helped her in her fight to retain the throne.Orlov goes to Italy, the princess falls in love with him and he takes her back to Russia. But during the completion of this royal assignment, Orlov in turn falls in love with Princess Tarakanova. Catharine, who realises that Orlov is in love with the princess orders him to hand her over to the commander of the ‘Peter and Paul Fortress’, the prison for traitors, where prisoners are interrogated and tortured. Love or duty: Count Orlov faces a heart-rending choice.According to the director, veteran Melnikov, his film reveals a new approach to history for Russia. For decades, history has been regarded as a class struggle, now he has an opportunity to focus on human passions and emotions.