[2] The film's poster showed the tagline "rysslands onda ande", which translates as "Russia's Evil Spirit".

[1] This being the only known German-Russian co-production ever done about Rasputin, the filmmakers were able to shoot the film at or near the historical places where the real life incidents portrayed actually occurred.

As the old order crumbles, the bourgeoisie and aristocracy live in fear while Bolshevik marauders sweep through the land.

The film hints that much of this upheaval can be attributed to the actions of the mystic monk Rasputin, whose influence is shown in several key scenes.

In the freer society of Germany, the two overcome their class differences and ultimately marry, finding a new life together despite their shared hardships.