In the end of 16th century, when Europe was thriving with trade and explorations, Russia was still backwater country with archaic government system and no hopes in the future. One man was destined to change it all - and the movie tells (only if quite short) about it. Actor who played reformatic Russian tzar, Peter I, does amazing job - its exactly how I imagine myself the emperor, who quite possibly could have looked bit different and had different temperament. Cruel and coldhearted at times and often driven by opposite feelings as well, Peter shown through both movies the way we came to known him. Just to finish this, last time I been to his grave in Peter and Pavel shrine, there were a lot of flowers near it, much more than near any other ones, even the last tzar.