Katia (1959) - film review

The Smolny Institute at St Petersburg provides a refuge for the daughters of noble families who have fallen on hard times.  One of the pupils is Katia Dolgorouki, a girl with a bad reputation who keeps a photograph of Tsar Alexander I under her pillow.  When the photograph is found, she insists that she was given it by the Tsar himself when he once visited her family.  A few days later, the Tsar arrives at the institute and when Katia is presented to him the director of the Institute tells him the story of the photograph.  Katia is surprised when Alexander confirms the story and then takes her out for a walk in the snow.  Succumbing to Katia’s charms, the Tsar promises that her family will soon have their fortune restored to them.  Katia leaves the Institute and embarks on a passionate love affair with Alexander, even though the latter is still married.  To quash the rumours, Alexander sends Katia to France to further her education.  During a visit to Napoléon III, Alexander seeks Katia out and decides to make her his official mistress on their return to Russia.  In the meantime, the enemies of the Tsar’s regime are preparing to assassinate him on his next public visit to St Petersburg...
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium)

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