The documentary contained some fascinating facts. So many critical revolutions were occuring at that time---the Industrial Revolution, the growing European conflicts that led to World War 1 and 2, the move from farms to big cities, and the continued demise of monarchies. I wonder what it was like to be a Czar and watch the common masses become more literate, more powerful, and more upset. How could he just turn to partying and drinking? Couldn't he control the people? Instead of partying so much, he should have governed, mandated some welfare policies, given the people food, land, and education to help them take care of themselves. I belive it is possible to be a "good" king. But maybe not in this world of democratic values and greedy dictators.
The last thing the Czar should have done is allow this strange "mystic," Rasputin into his home and family. First part of the documentary focused on introducing the Czar and his family, the 2nd part focused on the strange and bizarre character of Rasputin, and the third part focused on the potential, but mysterious end of the royal family. All of it like the saying goes shows how "truth is stranger than fiction."
Did he really have all this supernatural power? The documentary seemed fairly unbiased and fact-based, but it did seem to sensationalize the story a little bit. I just keep imagining his eyes---so dark. Perhaps it was just the black and white, old style, photographs. I don't generally believe in people with such overt and in-your-face demonic powers; I believe he used drugs, his reputation, and his religion to manipulate and control people. Though it is hard for me to argue with the facts that they beat him, hung him, shot him and he still didn't die. Somehow drowning eventually killed him. Maybe the executioners were unskilled, but it's hard to say almost 100 years later. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
