''Vasilisa'' (russian: Василиса) is a 2014 Russian film and TV mini-series for

Russian World Studios Russian World Studios was founded in 1984 by Yuri Sapronov and Andrei Smirnov, and is one of the largest film and television production companies in the Russian market. As of 1992, the company had produced or serviced over 400 film and television ...

(RWS) based on the life of Napoleonic War partisan

Vasilisa Kozhina Vasilisa Kozhina (russian: Василиса Кожина, —) was a Russian guerrilla in the Patriotic War of 1812 who fought against the invading French '' Grande Armée''. Biography Vasilisa came from Russian peasants. She was a wife of Gorshko ...

directed by Anton Sivers. Russian World Studios originally contracted Dmitry Meskhiev to direct the film, with the lesser known Anton Sivers taking over after Meskhiev pulled out.

Plot

Serf Vasilisa is in a secret romantic relationship with nobleman Ivan Ryazanov. He promises her freedom and a wedding, but since his childhood has been engaged to another girl from the nobility, whose friendship he retains. Having convinced herself that Ryazanov is likely to marry his fiancée, Vasilisa is persuaded by her sister to marry instead the village elder, Kozhin, who has been pursuing her. As Vasilisa resigns herself to a loveless marriage and the unromantic, unrelenting hard work of village life,

Napoléon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

's armies invade Russia and the Patriotic War begins. Heartbroken by Vasilisa's marriage, Ryazanov departs with a detachment of Russian soldiers for the front and throws himself into the fighting. When she learns of the destruction of Ryazanov's regiment in a bloody French victory against the Russians, a grieving Vasilisa is obliged to admit both to herself and to god the depth of her devotion to the nobleman. With no way of knowing whether Ryazanov has survived, Vasilisa pledges he will be avenged against the French. Emboldened by their early victory, the French occupy greater amounts of Russian territory, and take military possession of where Vasilisa lives. The French forces murder peasants, impound food, rape women and execute any resistors. Outraged by the inaction of the local Russian landowner to these abuses of their people, Vasilisa organises the local peasants into partisans and begins a guerrilla war against the full might of the invading army.

Cast

Svetlana Khodchenkova Svetlana Viktorovna Khodchenkova (russian: Светла́на Ви́кторовна Хо́дченкова; born 21 January 1983) is a Russian film, television and theater actress. She is an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2018). Earl ...

as Vasilisa Kozhina *Jérôme Cusin * Andrey Ilin as Elagin *Vladimir Metveev as Russian Marshall Mikhail Kutuzov *

Alexey Barabash Alexey Igorevich Barabash (russian: Алексе́й И́горевич Бараба́ш; born 12 June 1977) is a Russian actor. He is known for playing the role of Nikiforov in ''Stalingrad'' (2013). Biography Alexey Barabash was born in Lening ...

as Russian Emperor Alexander 1st *Vitaliy Kovalenko as

References

2014 films 2010s historical drama films Russian historical drama films Russian war drama films 2014 war drama films Russian television miniseries Russian drama television series 2010s Russian television series 2015 Russian television series debuts 2015 Russian television series endings Channel One Russia original programming Depictions of Napoleon on film Works about women in war Russian biographical television series {{Russia-film-stub