To pay off their debts, parents sell their daughter Kira to an old coach maker, a wealthy man Stavro, before her birth. When Kira is 13 years old, Stavro takes her to his home as a slave wife.
A group of peasants comes to see Leo Tolstoy and his wife, the Countess, to request some land. Tolstoy must explain to them that it is his wife who has authority over their land-holdings, and she will not help them. Stung by their negative reaction to him, Tolstoy becomes increasingly preoccupied with the problems of the poor. This leads to a number of conflicts with his wife, and then to a deep despondency, as the noted writer continues vainly to search for answers to the sufferings he sees around him.
Первый русский «сверхбоевик», постановка которого была осуществлена с «высочайшего соизволения» Николая II. Картина разыграна на Крымском полуострове, в местах подлинных событий, с участием войск и флота, в эпизодах снимались местные жители и участники героической защиты Севастополя (1854—1855). Просмотр картины для императорской семьи состоялся 14.11.1911 в Ливадии (Ялта). На спектакле также присутствовали придворные и офицеры частей войск, находящихся в Ливадии, и императорской яхты «Штандарт».
