Prince Alexeli, heir to the last Tsar is a haemophiliac. The Tsarina ia persuaded to allow a mysterious monk, Rasputin, to use his powers of healing on the prince against the wishes of the Tsar.
Rasputin uses his powers on the young prince - with successful results. So begins a relationship whih ended in Rasputin's murder and the eventual fall of Imperial Russia.
Alan Rickman
Ian McKellen
Greta Sacchi
It is one of the best depictions of Rasputin I've personally ever seen, if not a bit one sided considering he was rather insane or so they say. Here Rasputin just seems to be a bewitched off with the faries monk, than a violent man depicted in history.
Alan plays him exceptionally well and he the look the voice perfect.
Although this film isn't one of my favourites it does express the historical facts pretty well, and has been known to be shown in schools as part of history lessons.
Obviously lots have been left out from actual history - obviously since the film is about two hours long - would have made rather a good mini series though.
The actual historical account was far more bloody and gory than shown in the film. Rasputin himself was actually killed in a much more violent fashion which included rape, and genital decapition.
The story goes that his penis was preserved as a curiousity since Rasputin was apparently extrememly highly sexed.
Rather gross I think.
It has been said that Alan grew his own hair for this film, thought I differ in belief.
Rasputin was actually filmed in freezing Russia
