NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA

REVIEWED BY SHANNON H.

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: implied nudity and sexual content, violence

Rated:

We all know them, the Romanovs. The once most powerful royal family in Russia that reigned for 300 years and today are only a memory. We know the sad ending to the once romantic story that enveloped the lives and memories of people for generations. In 1918, with the Russian Revolution just under way, the Tsar and his family were escorted to a basement and were told that they were going to have their picture taken.  They had no idea of what would really happen to them that night.

Fast forward to the year 1904. The story begins when Tsar Nicholas II (Michael Jayston) and his wife Alexandra (Janet Suzman) are expecting their fifth and final child. Their anticipation turns to joy when they find that Alexandra has given birth to their long-awaited male heir (since the reign of Catherine the Great, no woman was allowed to inherit the Russian throne). They named him Alexei (or sometimes, Alexis). Soon, their joy turned to sorrow when they find that their only and beloved son has a deadly genetic-born illness called hemophilia. Only male children are vulnerable to it while females are mainly the carriers of the disease. Alexandra learns that she got it from her grandmother, Queen Victoria (the disease came about from centuries of inbreeding in royal families and even Victoria had a hemophiliac son, who lived to his 30s). For personal reference, hemophiliacs like Alexei do not have the ability to clot blood properly. So, getting a cut or a bruise could be deadly (in our time, modern medicine greatly prolongs the life of hemophiliacs with much more effective medication).

Immediately, the blame is put on Alexandra for giving her son the illness. She then seeks the help of a transient/"holy man" called Rasuptin (Tom Baker....it also might be wise to note that "Rasputin" means "desolate" in Russian). Rasputin urges her to pray to God for forgiveness and to not worry about little Alexei, since he will be fine. Alexandra then becomes fast-friends with the so-called prophet (who lacks personal hygiene). Rasputin is not exactly holy as he makes himself out to be. He is a womanizer, drunkard, and an all around hedonist. Rasputin believes that in order to be "saved" one must sin (which contradicts Biblical law but I'll get to that later). Rasputin becomes Alexei's savior when he critically bruises himself in a boating activity.

However, Nicholas is quite skeptical of this transient coming into his palace and hanging around his wife and kids. After receiving reports of Rasputin's doings (i.e. visiting brothels, bars, etc.) Nicholas has had enough and orders the "holy man" to leave despite his wife's objections. With Rasputin out of the way, Nicholas can concentrate on ruling Russia, which is not doing rather well. The Tsar has denied any rights of free speech, better education, or any kind of reform, thinking it would lead to rebellion. He is enamored with the idea that God had given him absolute rule over Russia and everyone likes it better that way. With no hope in sight, citizens begin to rebel and a rabble rouser Vladimir Lenin and his friend Leon Trotsky start making political speeches to disillusioned Russian citizens, promising them a better future. With political opposition facing him, Nicholas abdicates his throne and he and his family head to a village home in Siberia and then to Ekaterinberg, the last place they would stay for the rest of their lives.

The film is given a PG rating but according to today's standards it would barely make a PG-13. The sexual content is few and far between but most of it involves Rasputin. He is seen nude, carousing with women in a cartload of hay (we only see his bare chest). He often makes comments about women and alcohol. Rasputin believes that sin is the way to salvation which contradicts Biblical law because sin is the very thing that holds us back from salvation. Flyers are passed around Russia and to the Tsar depicting himself, his wife, and Rasputin in a demeaning manner. While leaving for the war front during World War I, Nicholas reads a rather amorous letter written to him by his wife, which might imply the two of them made love the night before he left. The Tsar is also seen briefly fooling around with his wife in their bedroom (both of them are fully clothed).  he Tsar and his wife share a very passionate kiss while taking a walk in a garden.

The violence is somewhat mild or moderate but not graphic. Political protesters are shot at occasionally. Rasputin is shot at several times (by the husband of Nicholas' niece) before he finally dies. Alexei's sailor "nanny" Nargony is shot by Communist agents (it's off-screen and we only hear gunshots). Alexei is pushed to the ground by Red Communist soldiers and later tries to commit suicide by riding his sled down some stairs and into a door (he is unsuccessful). There is also shooting in the all-too-famous demise of the Romanovs (not fully shown on screen). The only spirituality featured in Nicholas and Alexandra is the Russian Orthodox Christian faith, which some viewers might consider un-Christian. Both Nicholas and Alexandra are devoutly religious and pray daily. A few individuals do take the Lord's name in vain (and there's the occasional cuss word, too). Rasputin, on the other hand, is a blasphemer in sheep's clothing. He promotes sin as a way to get closer to God while the Bible says that sin is what keeps man from getting closer to God. Sex in the film is seen as a "spiritual activity," as in the case of Rasputin (he is also married but still carries on extramarital affairs....and his wife doesn't even object). Nicholas and Alexandra's love life in the film stays within the bounds of their marriage, which is a good thing. It was rumored that Alexandra had an affair with Rasputin but it turns out that the rumor is untrue.

The film doesn't really have any spiritually-redeeming qualities but it does have a moral issue about absolute power. Throughout his reign, Tsar Nicholas II did little for his fellow Russians, thus the Russian Revolution and a civil war. It wasn't until he was in exile did he realize the error of his ways and he sits down with Alexei to explain what he had done. Alexei is angry at the fact that his father abdicated in his name without his consent and "threatens" to kill those who oppose his father. Powerful attitudes such as this do not make good leadership qualities. A good leader is someone who listens to those under him/her. Nicholas did not possess any leadership qualities and eventually, his country teetered on total ruin. I found the production to be mediocre; not great but not bad. I have seen it several times since I am a Romanov fan (I own several books on them). It is pretty historically accurate and true to Robert K. Massie's historiographical novel of the same name, however, there is no record that Alexei ever tried to attempt suicide. The producers put that in to make the plot interesting. 

This is definitely a period piece that spans two videocassettes and is readily available on DVD (I rented this film before I had a DVD player so I don't know what the features are). The costumes, the music, and the lush landscapes really fascinated me. Still, the camera angles are quite jumpy and the film jump from scene to scene still needs work. While watching the film, I occasionally imagine myself sitting down next to Mike Nelson and his robot buddies from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and making comical, cheap shots. I would have expected better direction from Franklin J. Schaffner, who did Patton two years earlier. I'd recommend this film to history buffs, fans of period pieces, or anyone who enjoys watching two-video movies.