I'm tired. I'm leaving... The life of the Russian Emperor Alexander I is full of mysteries and contradictions. They say that he did not want the authorities, dreamed of living as a private person, but ruled the country for a quarter of a century. He was going to give Russia a constitution, but he never did. He knew about the Decembrists preparing the uprising, but did nothing. Shrouded in mystery and the sudden death of the emperor in Taganrog. A beautiful legend that the Emperor staged his death, but in fact went to wander, as if created for the screen. I was fascinated by this topic by a wonderful director, Oscar nominee Igor Talankin.
Strictly speaking, The Invisible Traveler is not really a movie. About the last days of Alexander Pavlovich Talankin first wrote a play, and only then transferred it to the screen. The theatrical convention of his composition, the director does not hide, but on the contrary, emphasizes in every possible way. It probably didn’t help the movie. No field shooting, semi-dark interiors, long monologues, a minimum of music, monotonous camera work ... It is clear that such asceticism is not due to the good life (" dashing 90s), lack of money and the collapse of film production), but the fact is that many films-performances of Soviet times look more fascinating.
It would be quite dreary, but, fortunately, there is a chic cast in The Invisible Traveler. And it does not matter that Vasily Lanova (Alexander) and Alla Demidova (Empress Elizabeth) are much older than their characters. There are actors who are interesting to watch, even if they are just silent in the frame.
Thanks to the actor’s dedication, “The Invisible Traveler” can interest the viewer with the era of Alexander the First, make you wonder whether politics and conscience are compatible. It would have looked better on the stage.
6 out of 10