Yesenin (TV series)


Yesenin is a 2005 Russian biographical eleven-episode television miniseries, directorial debut of Igor Zaitsev. It outlines the conspiracy version of the death of the Russian poet Sergei Yesenin. The series is based on the novel "Yesenin. Story of a Murder" by Vitali Bezrukov and the main role was played by his son Sergey Bezrukov.

Plot

The series has two parallel storylines. One takes place in the 1980s. MUR investigator Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Khlystov receives by post a posthumous photograph of Sergei Yesenin. He must conduct the business according to the law, to register and file away the letter. However, the Lieutenant-Colonel does otherwise - he begins his own investigation. Khlystov finds materials related to Yesenin's life, and also searches for direct witnesses who personally knew the poet. The further the investigation comes, the more evidence in favor of Yesenin's murder by the conspiracy of the Soviet Government. Khlystov even wants to insist on exhumation, but it turns out that this is impossible: the foundation was concreted in order to affix the monument to Yesenin on his grave. And now, when there is very little to prove the murder of Yesenin, the main witness suddenly perishes. On the same day Khlystov himself is killed in a car crash. The investigation remains unfinished.
The second storyline tells about Yesenin's life from the moment of his service in the army before the funeral. The film shows the main events of the poet's life, including his military service, coming to Petrograd, becoming a poet, communicating with Russia's most important figures, traveling around the country and the world, life with Isadora Duncan and his final years. The last day of Esenin's life is shown in detail. The fate of the people with whom Sergei Alexandrovich was directly connected is told in the scene depicting the poet's funeral.

Cast

Scenes depicting Italy were shot in Odessa and the ones in Paris were filmed in Venice. Other locations included Konstantinovo, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Principal photography lasted for 155 days.
Gary Busey insisted that a fight scene would be written in the script specially for him.
When Zaitsev was ill, Sergei Bezrukov served as director. He was also the creative producer and the one who decided to hire Sean Young for the role of Isadora Duncan.
Konstantin Khabensky would later reprise his role as Leon Trotsky in the 2017 TV series.