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The film features Ivan IV, the first Tsar of Russia in history, as its protagonist. It tells the story of 16th century Russia, where he ruled the nation with brutal methods, and ultimately, his childhood friend became his greatest opponent. The film focuses on Ivan IV's inner world. Ivan IV had a profound influence in Russian history, and numerous myths and legends about him are widely circulated in Russia, many of which have been adapted into films. The movie *Tsar* was directed by the renowned Russian director Pavel Lungu, and it was selected for the "Un Certain Regard" section at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May. It was also screened at the Warsaw Film Festival and the Moscow Film Festival, receiving high praise. Pavel Lungu, born in 1949, is a regular at the Cannes Film Festival. His three works, *Taxi Driver Blues*, *Moon Palace*, and *Love, Married, Divorced*, were all selected for the main competition to vie for the Palme d'Or, with *Taxi Driver Blues* winning the Best Director Award in 1990. In 2007, Pavel Lungu also served as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite being set four centuries ago, Pavel Lungu believes the film has a close connection to the present day. He stated, "This is a metaphor for today's Russia, and it also refers to the Stalin era." Pavel Lungu mentioned that the film draws inspiration from the performance techniques of Chinese Peking Opera in certain aspects. The lead actor, Pyotr Mamonov, is a famous Russian actor with a solid background in stage performance. He has collaborated with director Pavel Lungu on multiple works, including *Taxi Driver Blues* and *The Lonely Island*, demonstrating great synergy. The actor portraying Ivan IV's enemy is Oleg Yankovsky, a popular Russian performance artist who passed away on May 20, 2009, due to illness. *Tsar* is scheduled to premiere in Russia on November 4, 2009.