PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON LAVISH RUSSIAN EPIC TV SAGA ON FAMOUS 16TH CENTURY TSAR BORIS GODUNOV WITH SERGEI BEZRUKOV AND SVETLANA KHODCHENKOVA

  'GODUNOV'

NEW RUSSIAN EPIC TV SAGA

The series is currently airing in Russia

We are continuing, and also finishing in grand style, our Russian Weekend today with a short spotlight on lavish Russian television saga GODUNOV which is, if the spy is right and when was he not, currently airing on Russian national broadcaster Rossiya 1! This sixteen episode series depicts the struggle for the throne, unrequited love, betrayal, intrigues, passions and trials of the 16th century rule of famous Boris Godunov (the first non Rurikid tsar of Russia) during which the future of the Russian state was being decided. Sadly, the end of his reign has pushed Russia into the

The series is based on Konstantin Badigin's novel Shipwreck near the island of hope

infamous Time of Troubles during which a third of population died from famine and which will end, after many years of turmoil, uprisings and usurpations, with the rise of the Romanov dynasty.

  THE STORY OF GODUNOV
set in the late 16th century,  revolves around tsar Boris Godunov and his family, covering the period from the reign of Ivan the Terrible to the accession of Mikhail Romanov to the throne. In the centre of the plot is the fate of the

Sergei Bezrukov is portraying tsar Boris Godunov in the series

Godunov family, from tsar Boris Godunov (Sergei Bezrukov), his wife tsarina Maria Godunova (played by our favourite Russian superstar Svetlana

Tsar Fedor Romanov, tsar Boris Godunov, and tsar Ivan the Terrible!

Khodchenkova), his sister Irina (who was married to the previous tsar and was childless which is how Boris managed to seize the throne. She is played by

Tsarina Irina, tsarina Mariya, princess Xenia!

Anna Mihalkova) and daughter Xenia (who will later on become the mother of the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty. She is played by Mariya Andreyeva)! Famous tsar Ivan the Terrible is played by Sergei Makovetzkiy.

DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON

The rule of Boris Godunov, who was of Tatar origin, was at first prosperous and popular among the people as he brought many educational and social reforms by allowing foreign teachers to work in Russia and sending young

Prince Fedor, queen Maria of Livonia, and prince Vasiliy

Russians to study abroad and allowing certain religious freedoms in the empire. Later on, sadly, his rule gave birth to the institution of serfdom in its most oppressive form during which the peasants were turned into slaves.