This is the first Russian post-perestroika movie which managed to survive Hollywood influence and produce a film which is made in Russian tradition but can be shown to American audience. The reason for that, of course, is the novel on which the plot is based. For non-russian readers, this is "Brave heart" set in 18th century Russia during the bloody uprising started by self-proclaimed Russian Tsar Pugachev (real story, tm). For people who have read Pushkin's story -- it's a really good screen adaptation of the novel. They didn't add or remove (as far as I remember) anything, so it will not make you sick, I promise.
