cherished.
AIexander the Great, Timur...
and your Peter the Great.
You're wrong about Peter.
He taught Russians to enjoy themselves.
A spiral staircase.
Where has everyone disappeared to?
I see. But why?
What's so interesting up there?
You'll see...
Peter ordered his son's execution.
The same man who taught the people
to enjoy Iife. How funny!
I thought you knew where we were going.
He built a European city over a swamp.
He introduced order
of the most primitive kind.
-Where are they going?
-But the city is still European!
To a party. But why the back staircase?
They were taught to have fun.
So they go to parties.
And the officer and the Iady?
-At the party.
-Where are they?
They've gone to the underworld.
Down, down, down!
And they are no more.
Be careful. The stairs are steep and dark.
Thank you. I can see.
Do you see where we are?
No, I don't know yet.
Sir, be careful!
Don't betray our presence.
No need to remind me.
Do not forget I brought you here.
Please don't get involved in anything.
And you, do not get too close to the actors.
Bend towards me. You are beautiful.
-Do you remember?
-Yes.
Good.
-Why are you pushing me?
-Don't scratch me!
-Why is she pushing me?
-You are pushing, too.
What an impressive orchestra!
They must be Europeans!
No, they're Russian musicians.
No, Europeans!
Italians!
They're Russians, for God's sake!
So?
I say it's good.
Very good!
I need to piss!
I can't hold it in anymore!
No, no, don't, don't....
Ah! Yes, yes.
Sir, sir!
Don't yell!
-Where are you?
-Here. It's only Catherine the Great.
Follow me!
I Iove the 18th century.
A time of genius and manners.
I would have to agree with you.
-Never contradict me.
-Very well.
Where's the Empress? Gone!
Russia is Iike a theatre. A theatre.
Careful!
I think I know where we are.
How pretentious they are!
Don't Iag behind, sir.
I'm not. I think we're speaking too loudly.
No matter. They're completely deaf.
I'm careful. I won't touch anyone.
Theatre.... What actors!
And those costumes!
Thank you, sirs. Thank you.
They can't see me.
This seems Iike the Vatican.
Is that where we are?
Those reliefs are painted, are they not?
What naturalism!
Weren't those decorations inspired
by Raphael's sketches?
Raphael, yes.
Better than the Vatican.
This is Saint Petersburg.
So they're copies?
Your authorities don't trust
your own artists.
Russians are so talented at copying!
Why?
Because you don't have ideas of your own.
Your authorities don't want you
to have them.
In fact, they are as Iazy
as all the rest of you.
Lazy!
There was a painting gallery here.
-On the upper floor.
-With 1 1 1 Italian paintings.
-But not the best masters.
-Not the best.
The tsars were mainly Russophiles.
But sometimes even they dreamed of Italy.
Wasn't the Hermitage created
to satisfy those dreams?
-Raphael isn't for you.
-Not for us.
-For Italy.
-Italy.
-It's warm there!
-Warm.
What beauty!
The small Italian gallery....
Who are these people?
Of which milieu are they?
Do you see that vase?
Yes! Empire style is everywhere.
-And those Voronikhine lamps.
-Lamps....
Empire, Empire, Empire!
I have no enthusiasm for it.
That style is too silly.
Don't forget it was born under Bonaparte.
Then it became fashionable here...
to the point of becoming the national style...
to the detriment of its originality.
We battled Napoleon, not the Empire style.
Who are they? Who are these people?
Petersburgers, of when the city
was no longer a capital.
It's better that way.
A capital city should be...
an ancient city Iike Moscow. Not a Chimera.
-Who are these people?
-Should I introduce you?
-Only if it's not impolite.
-No, they are friends.
Oleg Konstantinovich, medical professor.
Lev Mikhailovich, actor.
Shouldn't they rise?
My European friend, he is visiting Russia.
-My pleasure.
-He's European.
Medicine is a fine profession.
I haven't spoken for years.
Aside from my new