Saga of the Ancient Bulgars: The Ladder of Vladimir the Red Sun

The story

The second part of Bulat Mansurov's planned epic film series; “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars". The film depicts the life and reign of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich of Kiev, known in legends as Vladimir the Red Sun. The story begins in 972 AD, after the death of his father, Grand Prince Svyatoslav, which ignites a power struggle among Vladimir and his brothers. The film emphasizes that Russian princes only succeeded when they maintained good relations with the Bulgars and other steppe nations. It also depicts Vladimir's reflection on his rise to power upon receiving the book "The Ladder" in 1005, ten years after his conversion to Christianity.

Cast & crew

Andrey SukhovVladimir, Prince of Novgorod

Aleksandr BespalyyVladimir in old age

Alexander PhilipenkoYaropolk / Svyatopolk "the Accursed"

Alsu GaynullinaAltun-Maria

Leonid KuravlyovDobrynya

Ravil Sharafi

Ravil SharafiMamun, Emir of the Volga Bulgars

Afanasi KochetkovSolovushka

Donatas BanionisSveneld

Juozas BudraitisAsmud

Elina BystritskayaDuchess Olga

Yuriy NazarovSkomorokh Blessed

Vasili LanovoyConstantine VIII