ODE TO FREEDOM

Synopsis

The screenplay opens in Alexander Pushkin’s childhood. Through conflict with his parents, he is made painfully aware of his African heritage. This gives him unique insight into the wider social disparities in Russian society, notably serfdom. Against the backdrop of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, Pushkin is soon sent to an elite military school where he discovers his gift as a poet and meets lifelong friends who share his values. Napoleon is soon defeated, but initial euphoria is displaced with disillusionment when returning Russian soldiers, some who are Pushkin’s friends, grow more dissatisfied with Russian serfdom and the slow pace of political reforms. Pushkin joins this growing anti-tsarist movement and, through his poetry, becomes critical of the Russian government. Pushkin’s poetry becomes widely popular thus threatening the regime of Tsar Alexander I who forces Pushkin into a three-year exile in southern Russia. Once in exile Pushkin falls in love with the wife of the military commander who is in charge of his supervision. Pushkin also violates the conditions of his exile by continuing his social agitation against Russian serfdom. Things come to a head when Pushkin is banished permanently, under guard, to an even more remote place in northwest Russia for another two years. Pushkin then learns of Tsar Alexander’s sudden death by typhus and an attempted coup by many of Pushkin's friends. Since Pushkin’s poetry was found in the possession of the conspirators, the new tsar—Nicholas I—summons Pushkin to the capital for questioning and presumably his execution by hanging. Yet, in the course of his interrogation, Pushkin defends his revolutionary friends. Because of Pushkin's passion and honesty, the new tsar takes a liking to him and, quite unexpectedly, gives him a pardon. Tsar Nicholas also promises Pushkin that he will soon emancipate Russian serfs. The screenplay ends with Pushkin’s release and hope for the future.