Author: Elizaveta Stukanova

The Prophet: The Story of Alexander Pushkin (2024)
Genre: Drama, Musical
Director: Felix Umarov
A brilliant poet meets his muse. A biopic with rap, dancing, and Yura Borisov.

Synopsis from Kinopoisk
“Pushkin is young, bold, and adored by the public: he’s the star of every ball, fans idolize him, and women dream of catching his eye. But not even powerful patrons, loyal friends, or fame can save him from a cruel fate — exile, duels, poverty. Until one day, he meets her — the one and only, who will light up his life and become his destiny.”

There have been many documentaries about Pushkin. But feature films that feel like Hollywood dramas — like this one — are rare. Even before its release, the film promised an “unconventional perspective” on the poet’s life, and the creators definitely delivered. The spotlight here is on the fun-loving, at times hedonistic side of Alexander Sergeyevich — and we’ve never seen our poet with African roots quite like this before.

Why it’s worth watching?
This film combines two of Russia’s greatest current obsessions in the spring of 2025: actor Yura Borisov and poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. The second needs no explanation. But the Yura phenomenon seems here to stay — not everyone understood exactly why he was Oscar-nominated, but we celebrated it as if Gagarin had gone back to space. So first of all, watch this film to see that Yura Borisov can do more than just “brood his way to the Oscars.”

Second, to make up your own mind about the film’s rap inserts, which sparked passionate debate. Yes, the idea isn’t brand new, yes, it might’ve felt more “cutting-edge” ten years ago, but injecting this cinematic language into a film about the greatest Russian poet is both bold and refreshingly offbeat. I mean, the scene where young Pushkin jumps on a table and spits bars in front of an elderly Derzhavin — that takes guts and a good sense of humor :)

Third, this is a seriously expensive film with jaw-droppingly high production values and visuals straight out of The Great Gatsby. And a little bonus — Pushkin’s tragic rival Dantes is played by French actor Florian Débiendra, who had a cameo in one episode of Emily in Paris.

Cultural context & trends
Without Pushkin’s work, Russia wouldn’t be the country it is today. That’s no exaggeration — he shaped the language of his time, coined words, and transformed the nation’s cultural and intellectual identity. He was one of the first to bring everyday speech into poetry, and he gifted us now-iconic expressions like “left at the broken trough,” “a feast in time of plague,” and “without clever trickery.” His legacy laid the groundwork for Lermontov’s genius and the philosophical depth of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.

Editor’s note
The filmmakers clearly loved what they were making. You can see it in every frame, every shot, every button. The emotional climax of the film is the dance between Pushkin and his wife, Natalia Goncharova. Alena Dolgolenko and Yura Borisov completely embody what the director and choreographer aimed to capture: all-consuming love and trust. The scene plays out to the lullaby “Natasha’s Cradle Song,” and for a brief moment, even the most hardened cynics will find themselves believing in love again. The way they look at each other makes your heart skip a beat.

P.S. This film is also a gentle reflection on freedom. So watch — and listen — closely.

Published on 04.06.2025