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TELESTO FILM COMPANY
SVETLANA KHODCHENKOVA
STASYA MILOSLAVSKAYA
SERGEI PUSKEPALIS
ALEXEY BARABASH, KILILL DEGTYAR, EVGENIY SYTIY
SOFIYA ERNST, HILDA KARMEN, KRISTINA KUCHERENKO
WRITTEN BY EDUARD BORDUKOV, ALEXANDER EGOROV, MIKHAIL KAKUBERI
ANTON SHANIN, ANNA SOBOLEVSKAYA, IGOR GORDASHNIK
MUSIC BY: OLEG BELOV, DMITRY EMELYANOV
OPERATOR: MIKHAIL MILASHIN
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: DENIS ISAEV
COSTUME DIRECTOR: NADIN DAY MAKE-UP ARTIST: ALEXEY KLIMOV
MUSIC PRODUCER: ALEXANDER FEDENEV
PICTURE EDITOR: ALEXANDER KOSHELEV
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: IRINA MEDVEDEVA
CREATIVE PRODUCER: ANNA GUDKOVA
PRODUCERS: ELENA GLIKMAN, MIKHAIL DEGTYAR
FILM DIRECTOR: EDUARD BORDUKOV
ON THE EDGE
We're at the Russian Fencing Cup with only minutes
to go until the Semifinals.
Women's Sabre is ballet with a blade.
Fencing is the second fastest sport.
Only a bullet is faster than a Sabre.
Come on. Hey. Wake up. They've announced you twice already.
Kira Yegorova. Where's she from? Do you know of her?
Yeah. She's only done junior competitions.
This is her first senior championship.
So, did you sleep well?
U-huh.
I'll briefly go over the basic rules. The bout lasts to 15 touches.
A point is awarded to the one who touches first.
Only the touches above the waist count.
On guard! Ready?
Excuse me.
What on Earth's the matter?
I'm sorry.
Is she stalling on purpose?
-Good strategy! -I like her more by the minute.
And Nina is getting annoyed with her.
-Do you mind our presence? -No.
On guard! Ready? Fence!
That... What was that right now?
An impressive speed.
Fence!
It's the second one-light action and it's impressive.
She's not bad. Huh?
Halt!
She's lacking versatility though. She's got just a handful of means.
Her technique is weak too.
Fence!
And what are you going to do about her speed?
I'll drag her into a positioning bout.
Uhm. Well, go ahead, try it. I'm intrigued to see it.
Fence! Halt!
I think we're witnessing the birth of a new star here.
but watch the debutant annihilate her.
Pogodina can't seem to do anything about it.
Looks like we have a sensation.
The debutant shamelessly beats the national team's second-best fencer.
And goes to the Final to have a face-off with the team's leader.
So, it's the Final.
Our national team's leader is Alexandra Pokrovskaya.
She's a legendary Sabre fencer.
At 34 years old, she's a multi-time World and European champion.
And the only summit she hasn’t been able to conquer is getting the Olympic gold.
Go on.
The highly experienced Pokrovskaya versus nineteen-year-old Kira Yegorova.
(breathes heavily)
Fence!
Pokrovskaya's attack is impeccable. It's truly textbook stuff.
I think this bout's outcome is as good as determined.
You are being way too assumptive here.
Halt!
It's three nil for Pokrovskaya. It exceedingly looks like a wipe-out.
On guard! Ready? Fence!
Halt!
Woah-woah-woah! Yegorova miscalculated her attack
and accidentally hit Pokrovskaya in the face with her guard.
Let me see.
It's alright. I just need to stop the bleeding, that's all.
She hit through the mask.
Is your head hurting? Are you dizzy? Can you continue?
U-huh.
Alexandra's courage is certainly praiseworthy.
It takes a lot to decide to continue the bout after a hit like that.
Fencer on my left, it's the yellow card.
I'm not so sure Yegorova really deserved this yellow card.
Are you alright?
After all, it was just an accident.
1:3 Yegorova's first hit.
Kira finally opens the score.
Wow, an immense speed, just take a look at her. This girl in on fire.
Fence!
Another attack by Yegorova.
It certainly looks like the fall has thrown Pokrovskaya off her stride.
She finds it hard to get back on track.
That was a hit! This is the Pokrovskaya we know.
Fence!
Just take a look at how one second has changed everything.
What a fantastic Final. I've got to say,
watching their face-off is a real treat.
Fence!
Halt!
Well, well, well. This should be interesting.
Who will the referee give this point to?
Probably no one as the replay clearly shows that it was a double hit.
Attack from the right. A hit to the left.
Hmm. Strangely the point is awarded to Pokrovskaya.
How's that fair? It was clearly a double hit.
Was that a point for her lifetime achievements?
Kira, quit that. Or you'll get a red card.
Left fencer. Mask on.
Experience beat youth, after all. Pokrovskaya takes the gold.
The Final is sure controversial.
Yes, but in terms of how emotionally charged and intense it was,
this fight was one of the best I've seen.
Congratulations.
Why don't you just skip the next championship altogether?
They'll give the victory to you all the same.
Well, it is likely you won't even be at the next championship
to see it happen with your own eyes.
DAD
Watch where you're going!
What is it that you want?
KIRA YEGOROVA
KIRA YEGOROVA 19 YEARS OLD LEFT-HANDED
Oh, hi, Kira.
Hello. What took you so long?
I'm sorry, they held me back at the championship.
Where is your medal?
Well, I threw it away, you see.
If you lost, why not just say so?
Will it take you long to change your clothes?
The swimmers are partying already. They're waiting for you.
U-huh. I'll go pick a swimsuit, shall I?
Kira.
Come on, don't get offended, ok? I was just kidding.
I am not offended. I am just allergic to chlorine.
How is this my fault?
I am also allergic to morons.
Oh, I see.
If you keep swinging your Sabre like that,
you'll scare away all the men around you. U-huh?
Woah-woah-woah. Is that an attack?
I’ll go see the swim team. You're coming?
No, I don't feel like going.
Oooh, well, I sure will go. You see, I'm not allergic to chlorine, not me.
Besides, Semyonov is going to be there.
Be careful or you might get wet too soon.
Ah. Don't you worry.
Stop staring.
Ah! Kostya.
- Sorry. - You startled me.
Considering how quick your reaction is, I guess
I can almost call it a compliment. Hello.
Indeed, you're very lucky that my sport is not boxing.
Yeah.
A good concert?
Well, there was everyone but Beethoven.
- Uh. - What's the matter? Let me see.
I cut my finger, that's all. I need a bandage.
Don't tell me you started cooking 'cause I won't believe it. Here.
Just leave it to me.
I just cut my finger. It's nothing.
Hmmm.
I can do it all myself. Do you mind?
I don't mind. Take it.
Congratulations, you won.
Thank you.
This is... What cup number was it?
Seven.
I was wondering, why don't they just give it to you to keep, for good?
Has there finally emerged someone worthy of a mention in your diary?
Well, who is this girl?
This girl right here is someone I almost lost to today.
Is she really that strong? She doesn't look it though.
If anything, she looks frail.
Maybe it's just me who became weaker.
Oh, come on. How many of these girls did you face throughout your life?
I'm not so sure.
She's nineteen years old.
Has neither brains nor technique and just charges at you like mad.
Without even knowing what her next move will be.
But there was a moment there
when she just started killing me.
A cut then another
a cut then another a cut then another.
How pretty.
Yeah, I do indeed look just like a zebra now.
U-huh. A bar-code. A very trendy look.
Damn, I'm sick and tired of people posting their seaside picks.
That's it, girls, I've realized something. I want to have a rest.
Why don't you tell Gavrilov about it?
He'll easily organize a seaside and a good rest for you.
With no right to return to the national team.
By the way, I wonder, who will go to the Grand Prix?
Alexandra?
-Huh? -What do you think?
In Belgium we'll have a day between the individual and the team contests.
So what?
What? Chocolate and waffles, of course.
Aren't you worried that your pants might tear at the seam?
With the training Gavrilov makes us do? Are you kidding?
Gavrilov's coaching someone? I wonder who got the honor?
Halt!
So what? Are you tired?
Not at all, I just warmed up.
So, I suppose, now it's clear who will go to the competition.
Alright then, let's proceed, shall we?
So, it's the tierce, then the quarte followed by an advance-lunge, got it?
- U-huh. - Go on.
What did I just tell you? Do not attack me, you should parry.
Do not try to be faster than me.
Try to trick me instead. Understand? Go on then.
Halt, halt.
You are too hasty again. There's no need for you to show me how fast you are.
I already know you're fast.
Understand that we're not playing whoosh-whoosh-whoosh here.
Here, we are playing jazz.
Can I try again?
No, you can't. There are no second chances here. Certainly not in a fight.
Right, that's enough for today.
My greetings to the national Sabre fencing elite. Congratulations.
The Olympic season was started
with an appalling level of fencing
at the national championship.
As a result, I've got two bits of news for you.
I'll start with a good one.
No one is expecting us to win.
Now it's time for the bad. I am not taking any tourists to the Olympics.
I'll either take there a team capable of winning it
or I'll simply take no one.
Now, the Olympic race has begun.
For some, it's their first time. Others have already been on this journey.
I hope it won't come as a surprise to you
that this will be a tough journey.
Your opponents come with an intention to take away your victory.
I want you to be merciless when dealing with them.
But first and foremost I want you to show no mercy to yourselves.
Alexandra, catch up with her, go on.
Halt!
Now, put on all of your electric gear, pair up and proceed to sparring.
Today I want you to start training on the first piste. Right there.
You referee, I'll start.
So what, are you going to waste time again or shall we just start?
It's alright. Today I'll beat you as is.
Ready? Fence!
Look, Sergey, she will injure her at this rate.
It's okay. Let them figure it out.
Ready? Fence!
Are you alright?
Yes, never better.
Do you want to stop the bout?
Let's keep going.
Ready?
Fence!
Ready? Fence!
How are you?
Wonderful. That was quite an awesome training. It's fun here with you.
I mean, how are your wounds?
They are pretty cool scratches.
They are straight, red and they ache – just the way I like it.
Now, listen... You can't impress anyone here with your strong will.
Since this is clearly not some amateur fencing club.
This is national team.
We are a team here. We are more than just a team though. We're a family.
Right. Some family you are. I just can't wait to become a part of it.
Well, it's not up to you to decide, but the team.
By the way, you could have stopped the bout. I did offer you to.
Yeah? And what was the point of your being there? To look pretty?
Listen, give me this.
You can keep trying to show-off your strong will for as long as you want.
Yes, hush-hush-hush. I know it really hurts.
But then make sure to stock on bandages.
It sounds like a threat.
It sounds the way that you want to hear it.
As for threats, one needs to grow up before starting to receive them.
One might find acting on one's threat is impossible due to one's old age.
Now, listen, little one. Without you here, we’ll manage perfectly fine.
However, without the team there'll simply be no you.
You won't manage.
And that's why you keep holding on to each other and to all your accolades.
And keep talking about how your team is your family.
I came here for my victories.
And to achieve my goals I don't need a team. All I need to win is my Sabre.
Everyone here has a Sabre.
And you already saw what they're capable of.
She moves pretty well, doesn't she?
Her speed is the only thing she's got, actually. Just that, nothing else.
You're wrong though.
This girl has a very good instinct.
She's a predator. And she knows how to kill it on the piste.
While your killer instinct has somewhat faded.
Are you actually admiring her, huh?
It's not her we're talking about right now, it's you.
Hmm.
The Olympic season is in full swing. And you're out of shape.
The Olympic season has only just begun. I've still got plenty of time.
No, you've got no time at all.
And besides, these Olympic games are going to be your last.
While right now you're - let's just be honest about it.
Alright.
Right now, you're much weaker that you were before the previous Olympic games.
So, how exactly are you planning to win, huh?
However, you could achieve it with the help of this girl.
She's way too impertinent.
She's too cocky for the team. She's way too unruly.
Well, that's good she's impertinent. And it's actually good that she's unruly.
A wild and cheeky monkey is just the one you need.
You've got to learn to make her play by your rules.
You've got to make her do the work for you. You are the team leader.
Have you gone completely mad? What if it did actually hit me?
It didn't hit you though.
Did no one ever tell you it was rude to look through other people's stuff?
Well, in fact, when it comes to parties, it stops being just your business.
Did you stop to think about me at all?
What do you care?
I care because the invitation clearly states it's a plus-one.
Alright, it's all yours. Happy now?
Well. Kira, I'm sorry. But this plus-one thing won't work unless you come.
Oh wow. You look like a lady.
Do you really want me to go there dressed like this?
Well, if you really don't like it,
why don't you pick something from your own clothes?
But you should know, that this is a very expensive dress.
I bought it at a sale when the discount on it was 70 percent.
I basically pried it from the hands of one crone.
Wait, what is this thing here? What is this stain? Did you eat a burger in it?
Well, as I've just told you, I bought it at a sale with a discount and a stain.
That's why it now comes with a pretty little
clutch that you can use to cover the stain.
Like that.
Alexandra Pokrovskaya, the best athlete of the year.
Thank you.
Alexandra, you've got so many awards that you could open your own Sports Museum.
Thank you. Of course I'll strive not to... become one of the exhibits of this museum.
Alexandra, this is a present from me personally.
It's a seventeeth century Spanish sabre.
Oh. I'll put it here for now.
Thank you.
It's utterly surprising, isn't it,
how a whole life can fit into a twenty- second-long video clip.
I think I would like to add to this video all the training, injuries and defeats.
Then we'd all have to stay here and watch the video for twenty years.
Thank you all.
I'll go to the table before it's all cleared out.
Do you want some sparkling wine?
No.
That's a beautiful dress.
You've got a stain on it lower down there.
I just put on the first garment that I grabbed.
But thank you for this information.
You are welcome. I understand that it's probably not often
that you get to go to this type of parties.
Strictly speaking it's an honorary retirement
send-off so I wouldn't call it a party.
In fact, I would love to retire, you know. But there's no worthy successor.
Hope you have a great evening.
Thank you.
…gladly…
She's such an old bitch.
But she's still very good at fencing.
Good job you had no sabres on you
otherwise you'd have started fencing here and now.
My congratulations.
Sure, I'd do it.
So, you've decided you want to rock our little fencing world?
No, the world.
Where did a girl like you come from?
From Grizovets. Do you have more interesting places here, in Moscow?
I'm terribly hungry now. Do you have any food?
Did you have a fight with a bear?
No. With my teammates over a locker.
If I don't eat something right now, someone will get in trouble.
Here's some food for you.
Do you ever go anywhere without your Sabre?
Not without this one.
Was it a present?
My dad's gift to me.
Was it him who got you into fencing?
U-huh. He called me D'Artagnan.
Promised me a hairclip. So I agreed to go.
And when I found out you were allowed to hit people with sabres there,
I loved it even more. Because I was a wild child, you know.
And now you've calmed down, is that right?
U-huh. During my first year of fencing training I would just accost people.
I would chase them down the piste brandishing my Sabre.
They would just disqualify me.
My dad would go argue with the judges… and defend me.
So, you are your daddy's little girl then?
I didn't have much of a choice though.
My mom... One morning she just woke up and suddenly
realized that she was way too good for our little town.
She just packed her bags and left. I never saw her ever again.
A daddy's girl is not a bad title though.
U-huh.
If only he'd stay off the booze.
This one's mine.
I'm beginning to understand why Pokrovskaya is so afraid of you.
I can slow down a bit.
She's got a fast attack. Her high speed allows her to cut down the distance,
her counter-time is always short,
one thing she never uses is compound attacks.
Positioning bout is her true weakness, how do I drag her into it?
One year is not enough to prepare an inexperienced girl for the Olympics.
Gavrilov... what are you playing at?
WORLD CUP PARIS
She’s the best newcomer at the World Cup in Orleans.
An up to now unknown Russian fencer Kira Yegorova makes it to the Final.
Yes! Yes!
It's a resounding victory for Yegorova.
What an amazing performance for a debutante.
Alexandra Pokrovskaya, Russia's national team leader
loses to the young Korean Sabre fencer and is out of the competition.
Kira Yegorova bags a sensational victory
for her very first international competition.
Here, she was already nicknamed Russian Panther
for her remarkable speed and rapid attacks.
The pace. Keep the pace. Alexandra, keep up with her. Come on. Keep up.
That's slow. Way too slow, Pokrovskaya.
Do you need a ride?
No, thank you. I'm not that tired actually. I'll walk.
Go on. Get in. Or are you scared of me?
You did a very good job in France.
A surprisingly good job.
- Surprising to whom exactly? - Everyone.
At your age it's really more... of a coincidence.
So, don't relax just yet.
That's right. I'm not at that age yet
where they give you awards for your lifetime achievements.
You know, in this field, your lifetime achievements are all your victories.
Anything else is just cheap popularity.
It must be easy to philosophize about things
when you drive an expensive car and live on Tverskaya.
It's on Kutuzovsky.
I don't give a monkey's. You know what though?
I didn’t come all the way here for no reason, on a whim.
I'm going to get what's mine. Trust me.
In the professional... sports, those who just seek perks,
are highly unlikely to stay there long.
Stop the car. I’ll take a subway train.
I've been meaning to ask you... How expensive is your car?
I don't know. It was a gift for my winning silver at the Olympic Games.
Ah! That is, for losing. That's cool, hey?
- What? - What is it you're listening to? Doping?
U-huh.
You want a dose?
GRAND PRIX GENEVA
I've got to say, you have a rather aggressive fencing tactics.
It would be interesting to know what you think about when you get on the piste?
- To kill the opponent. - That sounds quite cruel.
I don't believe you would accuse a predator for killing its prey,
now, would you? It's the same thing here, really.
Careful, don't get crushed.
It's your fault for winning so many prizes.
Come here.
- What for? - A photoshoot with a star.
Oh!
Right. Now say cheese.
Come here.
You know, I've been thinking...
How would you like to join me on my tour?
We'll arrange a few days' holiday for you.
You'll relax, we'll finally spend time together.
What for? I'm not tired at all actually.
I am in great shape.
Do you know what nickname they've given her?
Russian Panther. Everyone's talking about her.
I simply must defeat her.
And what if... you can't do that?
How's that?
Well, you can't always be number one.
Sooner or later there'll come a time when you'll have to go.
U-huh. Yes. I'll have to. I'll have to go.
But I, Alexandra Pokrovskaya,
will decide for myself when it's time for me to go. Understand?
It won't be up to some useless little punk. Skank.
A self-important nobody.
You're a nobody. You're... She's a nobody.
Do you get it, she's a total... nobody.
It's only a victory at the Olympics that truly matters.
And you won't be anywhere near there. Do you hear me?
She won't even be anywhere near there.
Because these are going to be my Olympic games,
and this is my medal, this freaking gold Olympic medal is mine to take.
Alexandra. Hush, hush. Just calm down please. Please, calm down.
U-huh.
This... medal... is just a piece of metal.
What's important... is... us.
This piece of metal is...
my entire life’s goal. Understand?
Hello.
Oh! Hello there.
Well, hello, Sabre girl. So what... are you ready to be the cover girl?
Moscow Grand Prix is one of the most important contests of this season.
The tension is so thick one could almost cut it with a knife.
Well, it's not surprising really. The stakes here are just too high.
Today's results will determine who of the fencers
will go to the Olympics and who'll stay home.
Support your daughter from the bleachers.
I'm asking you to put yourself in my shoes.
I simply can't understand why it is that you won't let me go in there.
I'm just here to see my daughter. Kira Yegorova. She's an athlete
here, she's my... I'm her dad, you see? I just want...
I can't go there and call her.
Please, show understanding to my situation, let me in.
Phone her on her mobile.
You basically took the world of fencing by storm. Can you reveal your secret?
There's no secret at all.
All it is, is that I want to win more than any of my opponents do.
Look, there's your daughter.
Is it hard for you to perform today being this contest's favorite?
- No. On the contrary, it's quite nice. - Kira!
Kira.
Well, it's not exactly what I meant to ask. You are a star now...
Kira. Hello.
Who knew you had such strict rules here. Heh.
I was telling them, my daughter is there, I'm her father.
I just want to see her. That's why I came to Moscow.
What did you come here for? Huh? Who on earth let you in here?
Who did? Well, a lady came and showed me in. I'm sorry...
if I arrived here at a bad time but...
So what?
So what? Well, I just wanted to come and see you.
I... just saw you on TV, there was a news program.
And, well, you know what's happening at home...
What did you barge in here for? To beg me for money, eh?
Kira, I... I'm here now... I'm in Moscow, I've got a job here now.
What do you need Moscow for? What do you need Moscow for?!
Well. I apologize if you are...
Here, take this money for the commuter train ticket just make sure to get lost.
Just get lost, will you!
Kira, why are you like that?
We've reached the Final where we'll see the fight between
our two best female Sabre fencers, Pokrovskaya and Yegorova.
Alexandra looks simply fantastic.
She has in cold blood defeated all of her opponents one by one.
Kira, on the other hand, seems to me a bit worked-up.
Yes, but I'm sure that Yegorova will pull herself together in the Final.
Since the winner of this fight will go to the Olympic games
in the rank of the national team's leader.
Kira, didn't your dad stay here to support you?
Pokrovskaya deals the first hit.
Just look at it, Pokrovskaya scores again.
So far this fight has been going according to her plan.
I don't understand what's going on. Kira is simply not herself today.
Yes! There's no way this girl is going to give up so easily.
Pokrovskaya is gaining an advantage.
Kira's fencing speed is simply fascinating.
Wow, what an awesome hit.
Wow. Defence and retaliation in a jump. Great job, Kira.
Finally, we see Kira that we know and love.
Kira is catching up. What a great fight this is.
Neither of them wants to give in.
Could it really be that Kira will end up beating Pokrovskaya
and taking her place on the throne?
Oh, wow. This is truly unfortunate.
How are you?
My leg.
- Your knee? - U-huh.
- Does this hurt? - U-huh.
- And now? - No.
Give me the deep freeze spray.
Unfortunately, situations like this often happen in fencing.
Regardless of all the protective clothes the athletes have,
it is still a combat involving serious weapons.
The injury is not too serious, but I'd recommend playing it safe.
If it's nothing serious, then I will go on.
All I can say is, well done, Yegorova. Despite her injury, she decides
to continue the fight. That takes a strong will.
En-garde, pret, allez.
Well, it looks like her fall is taking a toll on Yegorova after all.
She's definitely having problems with her knee.
Yes!
Alexandra Pokrovskaya wins this highly important competition.
Now the Olympic Games await her.
Unfortunately Kira couldn't overcome the consequences of her fall.
Yes. While Pokovskaya has once again proven that she is not going to give
her throne to anyone without a fight.
Oh well... your ligament is ruptured. That's a nasty injury.
Alright then. You'll need physiotherapy for a while.
Yes, I got that part but when can I resume my training?
I need to prepare for a competition that's in two weeks.
Kira, you didn't get me...
You'll need three months for the injury to fully heal. At the very least.
This season is over for you, Kira.
Wait, what? It's not over.
It just makes no sense. I don't even feel any pain at all.
Of course, you don’t. But just because you've taken painkillers.
Take one every morning and evening. We'll start with these and see how it goes.
I don't need these pills, I'm totally healthy.
Listen to me, Kira. Right now, any sharp movement that you make,
can cause your ligament to tear completely.
And then you'll need a surgery. The best case scenario?
Your career just ends.
What you need right now is just to calm down and have some rest.
And later on we will think of some solution.
I need to be at my training.
Didn't you hear what the doctor just told you?
Don't you understand that you can develop a permanent limp?
I don't give a monkey's. To get to the games,
I’ve been swinging my Sabre in a lousy sports hall since I was eight!
The winning place is mine! I won't give it up to anyone.
- Do you understand? - Listen, what are you stupid?
Right, I'm already running late for my training.
Look, I'm sorry. Please, wait. That's not how I meant it, you know.
Everything’s fine.
Kira, listen. Could you just calm down a bit, please?
But I am calm. Let go.
- Are you leaving right now? - Yes.
I don't know how I forgot that it was today. The time just really flies.
Would you like me to drive you to the airport?
No, don't bother. I've called a taxi.
Hm.
Hmm. Thank you.
Look, Kostya.
I understand that I’ve always been a difficult person.
Especially lately, to be fair.
You have never been like this before.
What do you expect? I simply had to fight for the right to keep my place.
There is just no other choice.
Well, I believe...
one should remain a good person no matter what.
Is that right?
Well, it's easy for you to say, you know.
You don't have to fight to keep your place as the first violin in the orchestra.
Keep your hand steady!
Oh! Yegorova. Hello.
Hello.
How are you?
I'm okay.
That's good news, I'm glad for you. Now go do the work.
Vasily Ivanovich there is free.
Come on, come on, everyone, keep training, go on.
Halt, Yegorova.
Are you sure you're alright?
Come on, let’s go get on the piste.
Inside cut with a lunge. Parry of prime.
Then, riposte with cut at the right flank. Understood?
It’ll be fine now.
You've got a ligament rupture. It will take it at least three months to be fine.
And that's when you should return.
Can I, please, give it another go?
Didn't I tell you, nobody gets any second chances in here.
Right, everyone else, get back to your training, come on.
Aren't you sick and tired already of Gavrilov's tyrannical ways?
Well then, why didn't you tell it to his face?
Everyone's brave in the locker room.
Alexandra could have said something since she's our team's captain.
We don't have any team to talk about. We're all on our own here.
So what, let's proceed?
U-huh.
Come on, as always.
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, wait a minute.
Is there a problem, hey?
I got distracted. Everything's fine.
Alexandra, having trained you for twenty-five years, I can tell by your hits
what you've had for breakfast so don't tell me everything's fine.
It was me who broke her.
Oh, I see.
It was a fight. And you defeated her in it.
I just went and pushed her off the piste. You did see that!
So I did.
Listen, you've worked so hard to get where you are now.
As a result, you're at the top of your game now.
You've become much stronger. Your instinct has finally awoken.
Well, what did you expect?
Did you want to become strong but also remain nice at the same time?
That's just not how it works. Everything in life has its price.
So, quit complaining. And thinking of others.
Right now, there's just you and your future win at the Olympic Games.
Or am I being wrong here?
On guard.
When you do it like this, it really suits you.
- Like this? - U-huh.
You've got about half an hour to change your mind
and thus avoid completely merging with this bed.
Hello.
You should have warned we that you'd come,
then I would put on some make-up and a dress.
It's fine like this. Can't you bend your leg at all?
Should I, maybe, wag my tail for you as well?
If this is weighing on your conscience, you can just apologize and get lost.
I do believe you realize that fencing is very different from ball room dancing.
People get much more serious injuries here.
Well, you can go back to your room and pity yourself.
You still have a chance to rejoin our national team.
Gavrilov doesn't give second chances.
It's fine, I'll get over it. It could happen to anybody.
You're not just anybody, you know that yourself.
What you need is to keep training.
How? I feel pain just getting out of my bed.
I will help you with it.
You can go and stick your help you know where.
-Let down your hair. -Like this?
Hey, wait for me there. I'll quickly get ready.
So what, I thought it was really cool.
- Yes, it was. - How about going to our place?
- Nuh, guys, let's not. - Oh, come on.
- The girls must be wondering where I am. - We’ll get some alcohol, it will be cool.
Hands off. Alright, guys, it's been fun partying with you, but I'll go home now.
- Hey, give me a kiss. - Hey now, what do you think you're doing?
That's it, calm down. I said, get your hands off me.
- Calm down. - I said, get your hands off me!
Shut up!
Shut up you bitch!
Shut up!
I told you to calm down.
Listen to me, you bitch, if you put up a fight...
I'm ready to resume training.
What has happened?
You gave me your promise that you'll help me with it. I'm going to keep training.
Do you understand me?
Here, hold this.
Here... it's here that I've trained throughout my childhood.
Rock-n-Roll's hall of fame?
Right, first of all... you need to learn how to go easy on yourself.
There's no one here you need to impress. And you could easily tear your ligaments.
You sure know how to pep-talk.
Is it psychological support that you need or shall we start training already?
I wonder what you're capable of.
I sure can hold a Sabre in my hands.
Wonderful. Now all you need is just to learn to fence.
Get comfortable. This will be your workplace for the following month.
- Are you serious? - Absolutely.
I need to find out whether Russian Panther knows how to defend herself.
Are you scared that I might bite you?
Are you okay?
We should proceed.
I don't need any of it.
Do you want to know if I can defend myself? I can't do anything anymore.
Got it? I can't do anything anymore!
Is that all? Now listen to what I will say.
I'm not here to pity you or be a shoulder to cry on.
All fencers get injured and keep fighting through the pain.
So just get used to it. Either that or, if not, then just leave.
On guard.
You must adapt to your injury. You must completely change who you are.
Pain is a good thing. It helps discard irrelevant thoughts and be more focused.
You must learn to use this pain to your advantage.
You won't be able to jump like you did before.
So, you'll need to alter your fencing style.
And this is akin to learning to walk again.
But this is your only chance.
To win, you don't need to be stronger or faster than your opponent.
What you need is to be smarter. You must trick your opponent.
Make them believe that you're weak. Fencing is about trickery.
Trick everyone else and don't let them trick you.
Hello.
Hi there. What are you doing here at this late hour?
And you?
- We are training here. - Can we have your autograph?
On the condition that you won't tell anyone that you saw us here. - Come on.
Alexandra.
- Take it. - Thanks a lot. -Dasha.
- Will you sign it for me too? - Okay.
Why did you have to tie her up here?
She wouldn't listen to adults. So she needed to be disciplined.
So cool.
We'll be rooting for you at the Olympic Games.
Do you still remember your first Olympic Games?
All that was so long ago.
So much so that back then, Russian Panther was knee-high to a grasshopper.
Seriously... what's so special about the Olympics? I don't understand.
Well... The Olympic games, they're like...
Mount Everest.
Everybody wants to conquer that summit but main thing is to make it there.
I know about Everest. I have read... there're all these corpses.
They lie there frozen and nobody even remembers their names.
Yeah. It's the same with the Olympics.
They only remember champions.
This is quite sad. Also, not helpful.
It never gets any easier.
When I first started up in fencing, in the beginning,
I was too afraid to touch a Sabre.
And of course I wouldn't dream of hitting an opponent with that thing.
- What? No way. - Yes.
Gavrilov even wanted to make me leave. He'd say, 'If you can't hit anyone,
why don't you go to the class next door
and learn gymnastics instead and do splits'.
But I would return every day.
And every day Gavrilov kept on telling me,
'You're not the right monkey for this sport.
So, why are you here? You are not going to succeed in it.
I would cry my eyes out after each training.
So why didn't you leave back then?
Because I am very stubborn.
And you're just like that.
So, it's Everest?
Alexandra, can you explain it to me... what for?
It was my idea, I asked her to.
You?
Did your mentor explain to you the reason why I took you on the national team?
No?
I only ever took you on the team so that Alexandra
could have a sparring partner so that she would become stronger.
You happened to be perfect for that role. A wild and talented little monkey.
Of course, you could have made it to the Olympic Games, but then you got injured.
That's unlucky. These things happen.
So... That's it, you've played your part here.
Is that yours?
Alexandra. So, you haven't actually answered my question.
What for?
If only you knew just how much I hate all these talks of yours about monkeys, huh.
My whole life I've been the most obedient little monkey for you.
Do you remember what I told you when you came to me
as a little girl and asked to teach you how to fence?
Yes.
Do you remember what your reply was?
- I'd do whatever it takes. - What else?
- That I'll do whatever it takes. - What else?
I said, I was ready to be a bad person.
That. Your problem, Alexandra,
is that you're constantly trying to be good for everyone.
To be kind. Being a good person is not a profession though.
People don't win Olympic games by being kind-hearted. This doesn't happen.
Understand that this girl still has her whole life ahead of her.
But for you this is the very last chance.
These will be your very last Olympic Games.
Yes. It is indeed my last chance. Yes.
And, trust me, I am actually going to take it.
But the way I want to do it. With dignity. So that I don't feel ashamed later.
Ashamed is what you'll be when years from now
you'll be retired and telling your grandchildren
about the time when you had your very last Olympics and you failed to win it.
It's been a while since you and I had a meal together.
I never fed you something as awful as this junk food.
Do you remember when... you made soup for me for the first time?
That time I... put way too much pepper into it.
- It was all pepper. - I took it stoically.
Dad, let's just go back home.
Who needs this Moscow or the national team?
Let's just live like all normal people do.
Let's go then.
I bet... I can find work in our Grizovets too.
They've got a factory.
We'll go for barbeques in the pine grove just like we did before.
Just don't get rid of your Sabre, alright?
We'll use it as a skewer to put meat on.
Aren't you ashamed to be mocking your daughter like that?
Aren't you ashamed to be saying such utter nonsense?
'Who cares about this Olympics? Who cares about this Olympics!'
Was it in vain that I sacrificed my sleep on weekends to take to your trainings?
Actually, I went there by myself.
That’s more reason to be ashamed now.
And by the way, I... have started saving money now.
To be able to afford going to your first ever Olympics.
You're my D'Artagnan.
Well.
What are you standing? Start the warm-up.
Oh! Look, who's here.
Mademoiselle Yegorova. Is there something you want?
It's just that we have a national team's training now.
And you're standing here, looking reproachful.
Yes. I want to prove that this place is mine.
Yeah? That's interesting.
Alone on the piste, with no partner? I'm afraid that's not possible.
I'll be her partner.
Well, what can I say to that, Alexandra. What a fantastic performance.
But if it's alright with you, I'd like to continue our training.
Come on. Well, ladies, approach your targets.
Right.
OLYMPIC GAMES RIO DE JANEIRO
Kira, don’t you run a risk by coming here, by coming here,
to the Olympics with an injury that hasn’t fully healed?
I am totally fine.
Actually, I think you are risking even more
trying to tease the world-famous Russian Panther.
Okay, the last thing I would wanna do is to tease the world-famous Russian Panther.
But if it’s all the same to you, I’d like Kira to answer the question.
How did you manage to recover so quickly?
That's all thanks to the fact that we've got the best healthcare in the world.
Okay.
Your team had a pretty tough season.
Problems with injuries and team line-up. Has it been hard in this situation
to motivate the team to stay focused on winning?
No, it hasn't. These are Russian women.
If they lack anything, it's definitely not motivation.
I see.
Kira!
You did very well back there. Awesome job.
You helped me quite a bit too. Thank you.
So, you got what you wanted, then. You're at the Olympic Games.
Yes. Even though many doubted I would.
I didn't doubt it. It's just that I was worried for you.
I didn't want you to run such risks.
I will be rooting for you.
This is the biggest moment in an athlete’s life. This is the Olympics.
This is the summit that someone will conquer today.
This is the strongest competition line-up in my memory.
Excuse me, please. Could we switch the channel to women's fencing?
Huh? Switch to what?
Guys, his wife is performing at the Olympics.
Yes, we're expecting today to be very tense.
The strongest Sabre fencers will be fighting for the right to go to the Final.
Nina Pogodina, Kira Yegorova, Alexandra Pokrovskaya.
Today we have to support all of our female athletes.
There are no opponents among them. They'll be fighting there for us.
Pokrovskaya is a true legend of Russia's national team.
Well done you.
From the get-go, in the very first bout she's showing off her fantastic skill.
Yes, Pokrovskaya's confident attacks
leave us no doubt regarding her ultimate goal of coming here.
She won't settle for anything less than Olympic gold.
Kira Yegorova. She is that very girl who recently took
the world of fencing by storm and has already managed to stir things up.
Kira looks very confident.
Victory goes to Kira Yegorova!
Yes!
Russian Sabre fencers are performing remarkably.
If that's their coach's strategy, he must be ingenious.
Good job, Alexandra.
Look at that! The Russian Panther keeps winning on one leg.
As the saying goes, a wounded animal is very dangerous.
Pogodina makes an unfortunate mistake in the second half of the bout.
Sadly, it means the end of these Olympic Games for her.
The Russians suffer their first losses,
while they still have their main opponents to look forward to.
I wonder, can anybody stop them?
Well, we've made it to the semifinals.
Here, Pokrovskaya will face the legendary de Galier.
It was her who snatched the gold from Alexandra at the previous Olympic Games.
De Galier is in impeccable form. She is the World Champion
and the main contestant for the victory. And she’s got a lot of confidence.
Pokrovskaya has no chance. This will be the end of her story.
De Galier deals a blow.
Sooner or later Russia’s luck had to run out.
Alexandra's main task now is to control her emotions.
Pokrovskaya is taking a pause after the first period.
Why are you afraid of her? Stop overthinking it.
- I can't. - But you have to.
Break through this barrier. Just smash through it.
If you're losing, just keep going. You got it? I can't hear you.
I got it!
And move smoother. Come on. Do it.
Look at that, Pokrovskaya is now angry.
Good.
Yes!
Yes! Pokrovskaya is catching up to her opponent!
A hit by de Galier.
And by Pokrovskaya again.
Come on, come on, come on, come on.
It's a win!
That's amazing. The bout seemed as good as lost.
But Alexandra by some miracle managed to change the tides and won the fight.
What an incredible bout that was. Pokrovskaya goes to the Final.
Indeed, Pokrovskaya is a remarkable fencer.
Russia! Russia! Russia! Russia!
That's it. Well done! Well done you! You beauty!
- I actually beat her! - You beat her beautifully.
Right. Go have a rest. Restore your energy for the next fight.
Alexandra. You really need to stop... overthinking it.
- U-huh. - Do you hear me?
U-huh. In just fifteen cuts you'll become an Olympic champion.
Do you hear me? Fifteen cuts, Alexandra.
You let in way too many of her hits. It's all because you just barge forward.
Without watching your opponent.
What else? Why don't you just tie me to the piste?
I would if I could.
Ok now, listen to me.
I know this fencer.
She's going to provoke you. It's crucial that you stay calm.
And just keep doing what we've practiced.
Focus on her torso, and pay attention.
Kira will be fighting an experienced Sabre fencer from South Korea Kin Gan Xin.
Before Yegorova came into picture,
Xin was deemed the fastest female Sabre fencer.
Xin scores the first point.
Yegorova keeps getting hit again and again.
Yes! Yegorova scores.
Don't you take your eyes off her.
Xin prevents Kira from catching up.
Come on, come on.
It's a shame that Yegorova's injury stops her from giving it her all.
I don't get how they let her perform in the Olympics if her knee's injured?
Because it's different from your football where a slightest touch
makes you fall down on the ground and start crying.
Kira now has a short pause to regroup.
Calm yourself down. Just take a good look at her.
And she scores.
Yes!
Now this is the Russian Panther we know and love.
Attack her. Attack her.
Yegorova is on a roll. Nobody can stop her now.
Yes!
You can call it whatever you like: a big surprise, pure luck, a coincidence.
But she did it.
Now this nineteen-year-old girl from the town of Grizovets
is in the Olympic Games final.
It is common for athletes to be dissatisfied with their coaches.
They consider them bad. That's inevitable.
And I'm ready for that...
But I just want you to know that all I've ever done...
I've done it for the sake of your victory.
You're a fighter. You know it yourself there can be no friends on the piste.
The piste is the place for just one thing and it's the fight.
It's quite simple: either kill or be killed.
I am begging you, please, just switch off your feelings.
And switch on your instinct.
Remember what you were like when you defeated her in that fight.
This Olympics is yours, Alexandra.
And you must win it.
So, it's the Olympic Games Final. And it's going to be Russian.
Yes, these are Alexandra Pokrovskaya and Kira Yegorova
who will fight for the title of the Olympic champion.
Thank you.
Words simply can't describe it. Everyone is so excited to see the Final.
Regardless of this fight's outcome, it will definitely make history.
And look, the coach of Russian Sabre fencers goes and sits in the audience.
I suppose, it's the only right choice.
It's up to Pokrovskaya and Yegorova now to decide which of them is the best.
Go on, girl.
Thanks to all the drama of this fight, for one day,
sabre fencing has become the most popular Olympic sport.
The entire world is waiting to see the outcome of this face-off.
Wow, who would have thought I’d root for Russians so much!
Can I have some water please?
Yes, it really looks like it's going to be a very difficult fight
and most of all emotionally difficult. There's no 'us' and 'them' here.
Both of the fencers are certainly worthy of this victory.
Yes!
So, it's Pokrovskaya who scores first.
Pokrovskaya is off to a very confident start:
her experience really shows.
Meanwhile, Yegorova is not her usual self. As she lets in the third cut in a row.
Yes, but Alexandra too seems to be unhappy. What's going on?
Although I don't quite understand
what Pokrovskaya could be unhappy about in this situation.
Pokrovskaya scores again. She's obliterating her.
What's up with Kira?
Don't you dare doing that, you understand?
- But these are your Olympic Games. - I don't need a victory of this kind.
Fight me!
Throwing fights is not what I taught you to do. Fight me!
Yes! Good job!
And it's Yegorova's first hit. Has Kira awaken from her sleep?
Yes!
Yegorova scores once again.
An awesome hit!
A splitting attack from Pokrovskaya.
Kira just can't seem to break into the lead.
Yegorova scores again!
And again! Kira narrows the gap.
Come on, darling, come on.
Pokrovskaya retaliates.
And Yegorova scores again!
Yegorova evens the score.
Yes!
It looks like Kira's knee injury is giving her trouble.
The timing couldn't be worse.
Yes!
Pokrovskaya takes lead. The score is 14:13.
She's just one hit away from victory.
You must not just adapt to your injury.
You must completely change who you are.
You must learn to use this pain to your advantage.
Yes! Yes! Well done!
Kira successfully overcomes her emotions and lands a very important hit.
The current score is fourteen all. Now it will be this final hit
that will determine who the gold medal will go to.
Yes! Yes!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Yes!
Your daughter is an Olympic champion! Do you understand it?
Thank you so much. Thank you.
What a great fight. Go on guys.
The award ceremony completes the first stage
of the competition.
The final was just fantastic!
But the Olympics aren't over yet for our atheletes.
And tomorrow our female Sabre fencers will have a team competition.
This is a chance to win another gold medal.
We congratulate Kira Yegorova, who earned her gold medal
in a tense fight with Alexandra Pokrovskaya.
And we understand how Alexandra feels.
But tomorrow they have a team competition.
So Pokrovskaya and Yegorova will have to get past today's rivalry
and perform as one team.
Congratulations.
You deserved this gold medal. You did.
If it weren't for your help, I would have never made it here.
May I?
This is the thing I've spent my entire life on.
I was always afraid this moment would come.
The moment when I'd have to leave.
Damn. Why is this so hard?
- There's still a team competition. - Yes, I know that.
Now you've become the team's leader.
- No. - Yes.
No, I'm just a girl who knows how to swing her Sabre, that's all.
You are the team's captain. Alexandra, we won't manage without you.
We really need you now.
- Hello. - Hello.
Hello. Kostya. I'm very glad to hear your voice.
Alexandra, wait. You know,
I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right now.
Or what you're going through.
I just want you to know
that I believe in you even more than you do.
Thank you.
Pokrovskaya scores a point.
Well done. Alexandra is on fire today.
It's the final fight of the Olympics
and Russian female team is fighting the French fencers for the gold medals.
Yes! The emotions are running high!
It's amazing what's happening on the sports arena.
The fight is continued by Kira Yegorova.
Come on, come on, till the end!
The match is extremely tense.
It's Nina Pogodina's turn.
Come on, Nina! Well done!
It's back to Pokrovskaya. She lands a cut.
Good job, girls!
Our girls are the best today.
Alexandra Pokrovskaya is back on the piste.
Right now, the fate of the Olympic gold can be determined by just one cut.
- Yes! - Yes! We are Olympic champions!
We are Olympic champions!
And Alexandra Pokrovskaya receives the award
she's been striving for her whole life.
Yes!
That's it! We are Olympic champions.
We are Olympic champions!
And Sofiya Velikaya receives the award she's been striving for her whole career.
Time's up, time's up, time's up, time's up, time's up, time's up!
Yes! We've got a winner!
Inna Deriglazova.
Oh wow! Yana Egorian!
Getting gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
It's a win for Sofia Pozdniakova and she cries with joy.
It's a happy ending.