Poor, Poor Pavel (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 3
Released in 2003, Poor, Poor Pavel is a drama film directed by Vitaly Melnikov, running about 103 minutes.
What it’s about. Lenfilm's most recent major production spins a kind of historical fantasy based on real incidents that's full of ominous implications for today. One night, a patrol rushes into the chambers of the Russian prince Pavel, son of the Empress Catherine; the Empress has died, and Pavel is to be anointed the new Tsar. Thought to be feeble-minded at best and crazy at worst, Pavel soon lives up to his enemies' fears: he dismisses long-serving courtiers, demands that peasants only work three days a week, and declares that state officials should start their days at 5 am. Soon, it seems that everyone who can is trying to hatch some kind of plot against him - including his own sons. Sumptuously designed, POOR POOR PAVEL constrasts the imperial splendor of the court with the sordid atmosphere of conspiracies and backstabbing that comes to define these characters' lives.
Who’s in it. Poor, Poor Pavel stars Viktor Sukhorukov as Emperor Pavel the First, Oleg Yankovskiy as Count Palen, Oksana Mysina as Empress Mariya Fyodorovna and Aleksey Barabash as Aleksandr, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 3.0/10, Poor, Poor Pavel has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Poor, Poor Pavel page.
If you liked it. Fans of Poor, Poor Pavel tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Poor, Poor Pavel (2003)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Poor, Poor Pavel change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Poor, Poor Pavel worth watching?
- Poor, Poor Pavel holds an audience score of 3.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Poor, Poor Pavel?
- Poor, Poor Pavel stars Viktor Sukhorukov, Oleg Yankovskiy, Oksana Mysina, Aleksey Barabash and Anna Molchanova.