The Tolstoy Defence

The shrill and tragic story about an event that involved Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. In an infantry regiment of the military based in the Tula region an offence occurs. In this regiment, the capital’s lieutenant Grigory Kolokoltsev — inspired by progressive ideas — does his service. A military tribunal and execution await the soldier charged with the offence. Kolokoltsev asks Count Tolstoy for help — and he decides to protect the innocent man. The pointed history about the complexity of choice and fidelity to one’s ideals is based on real events.

Director: Avdotya Smirnova

Cast

Alexey Smirnov

Grigoriy Apollonovich Kolokoltsev, porochik

Philipp Gurevich

Vasily Stepanovich Shabunin, rotnyi pisar

Evgeny Kharitonov

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Irina Gorbacheva

Sofya Andreyevna Tolstaya, zhena Lva

Łukasz Simlat

Kazimir Bronislavovich Yatsevich, kapitan, komandir roty

Sergey Umanov

Aleksandr Matveyevich Stasyulevich, praporschik

Liza Yankovskaya

Tatyana Andreevna Bers, sestra Sofyi Tolstoy

Aleksey Makarov

Sergey Tolstoy