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In this romantic costume fantasy for grownups, Tsar Peter the Great's sensitive and intellectual black Ethiopian servant Hannibal (Vladimir Vysotsky) is in love but is unwilling to force the issue with his lady-love. A privileged character raised in the Russian court, the servant argues freely with his master over many issues. Though the Tsar is busy with his Europeanizing schemes, he takes the time to intervene in his servant's amours, and tries to force him into an arranged marriage. The story is remotely based on the history of a real person, who married a German countess; his grandson was the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.