For revision purposes we will watch the following film:

“Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny“.

1.

Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture made for TV. Alan Rickman, starring as Rasputin, won an Emmy (along with Greta Scacchi playing Tsarina Alexandra) and a Golden Globe for his work in this movie. Ian McKellen, playing Tsar Nicholas II, won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and was nominated an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor.

Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny is a 1996 biographical historical drama television film which chronicles the last four years (1912–16) of Grigori Rasputin’s stint as a healer to Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia; the heir apparent to the Russian throne as well as the only son of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna; who suffered from hemophilia. The film is narrated in the first person by Alexei.

In 1991, the remains of Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family (except for Alexei and Maria) are discovered. The voice of Nicholas’s young son, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, narrates the remainder of the story.

1883 Western Siberia, a young Grigori Rasputin is asked by his father and a group of men to perform magic. Rasputin has a vision and denounces one of the men as a horse thief. Although his father initially slaps him for making such an accusation, Rasputin watches as the man is chased outside and beaten.

Twenty years later, Rasputin sees a vision of the Virgin Mary, prompting him to become a priest. Rasputin quickly becomes famous, with people, even a bishop, begging for his blessing.

Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, Alexei is confined to his bed suffering from severe bruising to his leg caused by Hemophilia B, a disease that prevents proper blood clotting. Nicholas has so far kept Alexei’s illness a secret from the Russian people. Eugene Botkin, the family’s court physician, has been unable to help the boy. Alexei’s mother, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna asks to see a spiritual healer, and is recommended to call upon Rasputin.

Rasputin is summoned to the Tsar’s palace and brought before Alexei. Rasputin startles Nicholas and Alexandra by asking Alexei about his leg, despite neither of them having told him of Alexei’s affliction. Rasputin soothes Alexei with images of sailing whilst he places his hand on the boy’s leg. Rasputin limps away, causing Alexandra to believe he has absorbed Alexei’s pain into his own body. Nicholas asks Rasputin how he knew about Alexei’s leg, and Rasputin responds that the Virgin Mary told him and sent him to heal Alexei; Nicholas remains skeptical.

The next morning, Alexei awakens in perfect health and proclaims that Rasputin has healed him with magic. Dr. Botkin insists that it was a treatment he started using on Alexei the week before. Alexandra visits Rasputin to thank him. Rasputin questions Alexandra’s faith in God, placing the blame for Alexei’s disease on her weak prayers. Alexandra asks that Rasputin move in with the family and gives him his own apartment in the city.

Rasputin begins to become acquainted with Nicholas’s daughters, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia; worrying Nicholas after he hears rumors of Rasputin’s womanizing and flings with prostitutes. Nicholas soon asks Rasputin to leave the palace.

2.

Now watch Part 1 (of 3) of “Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny”.

Rasputin I. (33:25 minutes long)

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Today you are going to look at changes made in Russia under Bolshevik rule…

1.

Let’s see what action the Bolsheviks took shortly after taking power in Russia…

Bolshevik Actions. (1:42 minutes long)

2.

Complete the missing information on this worksheet about “Bolshevik Actions”.

SOLUTION:

3.

Read “The establishment of Bolshevik Rule”, p.16.

4.

Use the spider diagram below to show the first decrees issued by the Bolsheviks. For each of the points on the diagram, write one sentence to say what decree the Bolsheviks made.

SOLUTION:

5.

So, how did life in Russia change after the Bolsheviks took over?

Changes in Russia. (2:33 minutes long)

6.

“The establishment of Bolshevik Rule (1917-1924)”, p.17.

7.

Finally, complete the worksheet (below) to show what changes took place in Russia shortly after the Bolsheviks took power.

1. For the first part of the worksheet (titled “Changes in Russia”) simply write one sentence to show what changed in Russia.

2. For the second part of the worksheet, use the spider diagram on “Social Changes” to show how life in Russia changed under Bolshevik rule. Again, for each of the points on the diagram, write one sentence to explain the social change.

SOLUTION:

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We are now going to start an era in the Russian History that could be referred to as “Lenin’s Russia”.

It all started with the October Revolution…

1.

Let’s see how the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government in October 1917.

October Revolution. (4:00 minutes long)

2.

The information on “The Bolsheviks take power” and “The October Revolution”, p.15.

3.

Now, use the map below to explain, by means of annotations, how exactly the take-over happened.

SOLUTION:

4.

Here is a short revision of the events of 1917! (Make sure that you know this very well.)

The 1917 Events. (1:53 minutes long)

5.

Let’s consider Russia’s involvement in WW1 again to see how events culminated in the October Revolution.

WW1 Factions: the Russian Army. (2:06 minutes long)

6.

Finally, make a timeline of the events of 1917.

• Use a double page in your book.
• Write the following title: “The Events of 1917”
• Make use of the images below on your timeline.

6.

If you need help, you can find the information in your book…

The “1917 Calendar”, at the top of p.13.

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