Originally Posted by Karen 28th September 2006


As a young woman, Anna sees many of the atrocities that are part of the revolution. Using her camera as her eyes and as a witness to these actions she photographs beatings, riots, and more. She knows of rapes and murders. After a riot she sees "workers who couldn't have been workers" searching and robbing the bodies of the dead. She is protected from harm by a handsome Hussar soldier. They soon marry. Her husband goes off to war. He doesn't return.

Anna Petrovna was warned about her husband's short comings as a soldier. The colonel voiced his concerns of her husband's fear of loud noises and his off putting, overly pious demeanor with the others.

How do you think Anna is changed by what she's experienced? How does experiencing the revolution first hand affect her?

Why do you think the colonel warned Anna? Did it affect what she thought of her husband at that time?

Deppraved


I think the colonel was a dutiful man who would have warned any spouse about a husband that may have been a liability in battle, and maybe he thought she could influence Gleb into resigning from the Hussars and keep him safe (was that even possible?)

I think Anna had a true photojournalist's persolality, a way of dispassionaltely recording events, like you aren't really there. I'm not sure she ever felt like she was in harm's way!

She certainly was a fearless sort, she wasn't afraid to stand up to her parents. Anna is not afraid of change, and is more than willing to go along with the current. I think she accepts and welcomes the Revolution as something that is inevitable, and feels a duty to record it for future generations.

Karen


She was fearless and I can't help but wonder where that trait came from? She certainly learned to survive. She adapted and always ended up doing what she had to do. She was a life observer.

After seeing the revolution taking shape all around her, I think tho she kept herself removed, these acts had to have an effect on her and how she saw the world. Maybe that's why she looked after herself. Why she couldn't trust Mutz to be true or faithful to her. Just a thought.

The colonel was a seasoned and wise soldier. I think he just saw the things that would and could go wrong and he hoped that by warning Gleb's wife she might be able to make a difference.

Herestoyou


I think Anna showed her rebellious streak when she confronted her father. This was going to be her role in life, to seek out the truth, in her way through photography.

As was said above, I think the officer was hoping that maybe Anna could influence her husband to resign from the army, too.

I'm not sure if she welcomed the Revolution. I think she just accepted the situation. The history of the country had been torn so much by war, I think she was just numb to the whole aspect. However, her desire to "capture the moment" was one of the reasons she decided to stay. This was quite a bold move on her part as leaving with Mutz would probably have been the safer decision. However, is it possible that all she went through with Balashov and Samarin swayed her to see the events play out and to document them through film? She was involved with two men who took extreme actions because of their beliefs. Maybe that was the deciding factor in making her decide to stay.