Instigated in the name of the Russian people, the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II was actually guided by moderates and aristocrats. What parallels can be drawn between the February and October Revolutions, and in what ways did the two events differ? Did the Tsar’s ouster set the stage for Lenin’s rise to power, or was it an attempt to stem the tide of true radicalism? This program provides answers as it sifts through the political and cultural origins of the Soviet system and the historical events leading up to Lenin’s return from exile in April of 1917. Numerous expert interviews, as well as a dynamic tapestry of archival films, photographs, and documents, propel the sprawling narrative. Not available in French-speaking Canada. (54 minutes)