New Showbiz

You are here:
At the Beginning of Glorious Days

At the Beginning of Glorious Days

1980

Runtime

134 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Late 17th century. With no access to the sea, Russia suffers great losses in foreign trade. Peter tries to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov, but with no success: he can win only if he has a fleet. Peter’s ukases provoke the Boyars’ indignation. Europe looks in amazement: the Russian tsar begins to work at a Dutch shipyard learning the subtleties of shipbuilding?! But his training is cut short. Peter has to return to Russia in order to brutally suppress the Streltsy rebellion organized by his sister Sophia.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.3/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film focuses on 17th-century Russian statecraft and military expansion. There are no depictions of non-heteronormative identities or same-sex intimacy.

Gender Representation

Fair

Sophia provides significant political agency as the architect of the Streltsy rebellion. However, the power structure remains centered on masculine leadership and military conquest.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The cast reflects the homogeneous demographic of the 17th-century Russian state. While international relations are mentioned, the focus is on internal ethnic stratification.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative critiques traditionalist institutions as obstacles to progress. It emphasizes secular modernization and the pursuit of Western technical knowledge over isolationist norms.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities integrated into the narrative.

Strengths

  • Sophia is granted political agency, disrupting the trope of the passive female royal by acting as a primary antagonist.
  • The film provides a strong critique of traditionalist institutions that hinder societal progress.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities and characters with disabilities.
  • The cast is largely homogeneous, reflecting a narrow demographic focus typical of period pieces.

AI Analysis

At the Beginning of Glorious Days is a traditional historical epic centered on the consolidation of state power. It prioritizes the tension between old-world stagnation and the necessity of rapid, forceful modernization under Peter the Great. The film lacks modern intersectional representation, focusing instead on the disruption of entrenched, traditionalist hierarchies. While it does not feature diverse identities, it offers a progressive critique of stagnant, inherited authority. Ultimately, the work functions as a study of national identity and the transition from decentralized power to a centralized, modernized state.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.