The debut trailer for Hunt for the Emperor, the final film directed by Russian television presenter and director Alexey Pimanov, has been released online ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on September 10.
The historical picture marks the tenth feature film directed by Pimanov, who died suddenly on April 23 at the age of 64 from an acute myocardial infarction. He passed away shortly after recording the final episode of his long-running television show Man and Law.
Historical plot and Kremlin setting
The storyline centers on the effort to save the Moscow Kremlin from destruction by fire during the Patriotic War of 1812. Against the backdrop of the French occupation, monks from the Chudov Monastery join forces with a young noblewoman named Maria, who seeks revenge for her deceased brother, to plot an assassination attempt against Napoleon Bonaparte.
Their conspiracy intersects with Michel Clement, an adjutant to the French emperor, who harbors his own desire for vengeance against Russians over a past grievance. His encounter with the conspirators forces him to navigate a difficult choice between his official duty and his personal feelings.
The Patriotic War of 1812 saw Napoleon invade the Russian Empire, leading to the temporary French occupation of Moscow before the Grande Armee was forced into a disastrous winter retreat. The Chudov Monastery was an ancient Eastern Orthodox monastic institution situated inside the Kremlin grounds.
Cast and director legacy
The ensemble cast features Milana Bru, known for The Story of His Maid, alongside Stanislav Bondarenko of Hater, Pavel Kraynov from Aeterna: Part One, and Ivan Shibanov from Cipher. The film also stars Viktor Sukhorukov from Mikulai, Alexey Chadov from Comeback, Valentin Smirnitsky from D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers, Stanislav Duzhnikov from DMB, and Vladislav Tiron from Trigger.
Pimanov was a prominent Russian broadcaster and filmmaker whose previous directorial credits included the feature films Crimea and Eleven Silent Men. Wide distribution for Hunt for the Emperor is scheduled to begin across cinemas on September 10.
