(upbeat music)
(bright music)
(soft bright music)
(rustling)
(moose screeching)
(bear grunting)
(determined music)
(bees buzzing)
(laughing)
(cheering)
- Good for you!
(laughing)
- We of the Comchaca Tribe, we have
to kill bears who still are our friends,
for when bears chase moose, they make
the sun go around and they give us our days and our nights.
And they also give us strength,
even to kill them.
We have great respect for bears.
We even feel that we owe them a debt of gratitude.
Mmhmm.
(cheering)
- Siberia, the land that is sleeping.
Oh, it's mysterious.
Mysterious even today.
With it's endless forests, animals unheard of,
snow, ice and its immense rivers and lakes
that are like inland seas.
There are more than 100 tribal groups
and each speaks it's own language.
- You said it's a sleeping land, what's that?
- That's what Siberia means in the Turkic language,
they call it a sleeping land.
It's immense.
They say that only migrating birds know where it ends.
- Tell us, who exactly discovered Siberia?
- Who discovered it?
Well, it's been thousands of years.
People have lived there a long time.
You recall, it was people from Siberia who crossed
the Bering Straits and first set foot in America
some 20,000 years ago.
And in the 13th century, Genghis Khan's
Golden Horde overran Russia
and in Moscow later on, in 1689,
Peter the Great is proclaimed Czar
of all the Russias and the absolute ruler.
He's anxious to make his country
a great international power, he travels abroad.
- This situation is intolerable,
now the Czar will be guided only by his foreign advisors.
All of us nobles are ignored.
He has even ordered us to remove our beards.
- Cut off my beard?
- His majesty, the Czar.
(trumpets booming)
- Gentlemen, beards have no place in the modern world.
Shave them off.
- But sir? - What?
- We nobles have always worn them-
- I know.
- Sir, the wearing of beards is
an age old tradition with us.
- Exactly.
What interests us now is the future.
Barbers come forth.
- No!
- Are you refusing to obey your Czar?
- No, I beg of you sire-
- The wearing of beards is uncivilized.
- It's modern from now on.
(grumbling) (clipping)
(playful music)
(laughs)
- Here's what you look like.
- You can laugh, but you see what you look like.
(screams)
- [Teacher] Peter the First had
the city of Saint Petersburg built.
It was the capital of the north.
- Let me show you something Ivan Killiov.
Saint Petersburg is on the Baltic Sea,
facing Europe.
Here is Archangelsk.
Only it's port is frozen for six months.
We are also on the Black Sea but the Turks control
the straits leading to the Mediterranean.
- Hmm.
- Here is Siberia, it is so vast
that no man knows precisely how far it extends.
We must explore it, send an expedition.
- Hmm.
And I know the man to lead it, Majesty.
He's a Dane, excellent seaman and a cartographer.
he's serving in our navy, Vitus Bering.
- Very well, Ivan.
But he must understand, we don't know precisely
where we're going or what we may find.
Therefore all this must remain secret.
Do you understand?
- Yes, Your Majesty, it's just an exploring expedition,
no more than that.
- Yes but anyone discovered there must also pay taxes.
By the way, Killiov, what about your beard?
- I paid the beard tax that allows me to keep it, Sire.
Anyway, it's not a symbol of tradition but of wisdom.
- I totally hope so.
- Captain Vitus Bering, Your Majesty
and Lieutenant Alexis Chirikov
who will be accompanying him.
You may have complete confidence in them.
- Bering, I name you commander of the highest rank
in the Imperial Navy.
You will travel to Eastern Siberia where
you will construct two ships.
You will then sail along the coast
to determine whether Siberia and America are joined.
After that, we shall see.
- [Teacher] It would take them two years to cross Russia
and reach the port of Okhotsk.
(bright music)
(dogs barking)
- I believe it won't be long now before we reach
the port of Okhotsk, right Vitus?
(bright music)
- Tell me my friend,
I cross in which direction?
(mumbling unintelligibly)
- There are no oak trees or elms or forges,
no nails, not even a place to sleep.
How and with what are we going to construct a ship?
- We'll use birch trees like those
and if we can't nail the planks we'll
tie them together and glue them, right?
- What are you saying, we are going to glue them?
- Exactly, let's get to work.
(grunting)
(tree crashing onto ground)
- Watch out you!
- Come with me.
We'll get some rope.
Here we'll find our rope.
(men talking and grunting)
(bright music)
- And you really think that it's seaworthy?
- Yes, I do.
We'll double the planks.
Look Alexis!
Our supplies and equipment are arriving.
The sails, they must have brought the sails.
- Oh yeah Captain, absolutely Captain.
Oh!
(groaning)
- That's why Kietrov.
Load all the supplies.
(upbeat music)
- [Teacher] And in six months, Bering had managed it.
(inaudible)
And he sailed off to the north.
- America has to be that way.
- Yes, but how far?
- [Vitus] Perhaps 20 miles, perhaps 2000.
- In this fog we can't see anything.
- Vitus, look over there.
You see it?
Vitus, an iceberg, look!
Oh my God!
- Bear hard starboard, full starboard.
- Steer hard to port!
(dramatic music)
(groaning)
- I said starboard, you idiot!
You're going to sink the ship!
- Oh no!
(wood crunching)
- Hold fast, crew!
The iceberg's rising up!
(men yelling)
(dramatic music)
- Whoa, all hands starboard!
You, you, you!
Go on!
We're stuck up on the ice.
Chip away the ice!
(dramatic music)
- Oh, they're so slow, they're too slow.
(grunting)
- [Man] Hurry, a catastrophe could happen any second.
- [All] Whoa! Whoa.
(boat splashing)
- We're saved, just in time.
(men's teeth chattering)
- I think we passed through the straits
without realizing it.
How wide was it?
Did you notice, Alexis?
- We can go back and have a look.
Want to?
- No, it's much too dangerous.
Winter's coming.
We could be trapped in the ice
When we return.
- You have failed in your mission.
- You squandered funds of the Imperial Navy for nothing.
- You're not even Russian, Captain Bering.
We are wondering if this is treason.
- They're crazy.
- How dare you accuse us?
- We sailed all the way up to the Arctic Sea,
and we can tell you that Siberia at no point
touches the American continent.
- These men accomplished a remarkable achievement.
They did just what Czar Peter asked before passing away.
I shall now consult with the Empress Ann,
the Czar's successor.
Gentlemen, with our gratitude you may withdraw.
Your majesty, your Uncle Peter the Great
made Russia into a great world power.
His work goes on.
Our explorers have accomplished
a truly remarkable feat.
Your empire could well extend all the way to America.
Do you realize what that means, Majesty?
- You are right, Kierloff.
Organize another expedition.
- Yes, your majesty.
- We give you full authority.
See to it.
- As you wish, Majesty.
My friends, this will be the biggest expedition
ever seen.
Now, we must plan it carefully.
- the Russian Empire was immense.
But what lay beyond the ocean?
Were there new lands, never conquered?
That is what Bering was to find out.
- Well, is everything ready now?
- Yes sir, except for the scientists.
Two years preparation, and they're still not ready.
- I've had enough of them.
And I'll tell them so.
To the Academy of Science.
- Da.
(dramatic music)
- Thank you.
(grumbling)
- Ah hem.
Gentlemen.
Our expedition is ready.
We depart tomorrow.
- No, that's impossible.
- We're not ready.
- [Scientist] Why such a rush, we have the time?
- Perhaps you have the time, but I do not.
The expedition leaves tomorrow.
If you wish you can join me at Yakutsk.
If not, we'll manage without you.
Did you hear me?
- [All] Oh...
- What a country.
- I mean, who does he suppose he is?
The man's not even Russian.
He can't, ah, what are you?
- German.
- Polish is what I am.
- And have you anything against the Dutch?
(stuttering)
- Or English?
- All those scientists, look at them.
Let's go.
- See you!
- [Teacher] In the spring of 1733,
this unprecedented expedition set off.
Over 2000 people, men, women, sailors,
soldiers, farmers, cooks, stock breeders,
blacksmiths, carpenters, off on an adventure
that was to last for 10 years.
And apparently the scientists still weren't ready.
(rapping on door)
- We are not ready yet!
(slow reed instruments)
Still not ready.
We need time.
We're almost ready.
(slow music)
We are ready.
You can make an inventory.
(slow music)
- There are how many of you in all?
- Six hundred.
- Six hundred?!
Six hundred scientists?!
- No, what a notion.
We're taking our staff.
- Aren't there kind of a lot of them?
- The bare minimum.
Secretaries, draftsmen, cooks and bakers,
servants, fine waiters, chambermaids,
boot makers, tailors, and um,
- Um?
- Librarians.
Bodyguards, leather workers and all naturally,
interpreters, they all speak very fluent
Latin, Greek,
- Fluid in Latin and Greek, you say?
We're going to need the Lord's help.
- We are taking a telescope, barometers,
large magnets, accurate clocks,
map, tables and a reference library,
that's essential.
- Hmm.
And that?
- Several cases of bottled wines to go with the meat dishes.
And chardonnay for fish dishes,
sauternes for dessert, and champagne
for the holidays.
- Is that all, absolutely all?
- [Teacher] Along the way, Bering sends off
several side expeditions overseas.
(men singing)
Three years after his departure,
he arrives at Yakutsk.
(men singing)
- Ow, ow ow ow!
- Hmm?
- Here I come, whoa, whoa, ow!
- Here at last, where are the scientists?
What have you done with them?
- Hello Captain.
- Better get to work, quick.
Nothing's been done yet.
- There are no scientists and no provisions.
(men singing)
- Oo! Ah, ah!
(laughing)
(sneezing)
- This Dane Bering has been gone for four years
and never even reached the ocean.
This expedition is costing a fortune.
And we have nothing to show for it.
- Still, we have to trust him.
The expedition is quite difficult.
- Gentlemen, my name is Georg Steller.
I'm a naturalist.
I'm also trained in medicine.
I must absolutely set off and join Bering's expedition.
No matter what, I must join him.
This expedition is the dream of a lifetime.
- But by now, Bering is very far away, too far.
- Don't worry, I'll catch up.
- All alone?
That would be very dangerous.
- I assure you, gentlemen,
I may prove very useful to him.
All I want from you is authorization.
- If you insist, very well,
but it's your own risk my determined friend.
- Ah, oo, oww!
(bright music)
(snoring)
(water splashing)
- Is Captain Bering here now?
- No, he left Irkutsk just now.
He'll be in Yakutsk.
- Is Captain Bering here?
No, the Captain left Yakutsk,
heading for Okhotsk.
(gun firing)
(slurping soup)
(snoring)
(laughing)
- Ahh!
Hey!
(bright music)
(water splashing)
Brr (groaning).
(bees buzzing)
(waves splashing)
- These baskets have to last us
for more than a year.
You'll take them to Kamchatka.
Ah, what was the name of the ship?
- The Hope.
- Aboard the good ship, Hope.
(bright music)
- Hard to starboard.
Heave!
- Starboard, Captain, starboard was it?
- [Captain] Helmsman, I gave you an order!
- Kietroff hasn't shown up yet.
- We'll have to leave anyway.
Put our course directly towards Kamchatka.
- Captain Ber-
- Ah, you just missed him.
He's gone to Kamchatka.
- Oh, I might have known.
- But if you want to join him,
come with me on my ship, the Hope.
- Yeah, why not.
I'm ready to give up.
All I have left would be hope.
- Hold on, I'm sure Kamchatka is near.
(waves crashing)
(wood splitting)
- And Bering?
- That way, on the eastern coast.
(grumbling)
- Whoa. - Oh, oh!
- Uh oh.
- Whoa! - whoa!
(screaming)
- I'll take command of the Saint Peter, Alexis.
The Saint Paul you'll command and we'll head for-
- Captain Bering!
(gasping)
Captain Bering.
My name is Georg Steller.
I'm a naturalist.
Also I'm well acquainted with medicine.
I've been trying to find you for four years!
The admiral gave me special permission to accompany you.
(dramatic music)
- No one can read that.
- There, you see, the admiral seal.
It was signed by Ivan Karoloff.
- Yes of course, I believe you.
You've come at a good time, doc's sick.
All right, let's go!
You here, Kietroff?
You must have come together!
- Mm hmm.
- East North, East toward America.
- At your orders, Captain.
(dramatic music)
- Now they are lost.
We'll find them later in America.
- Where are we Captain, I can't see anything at all.
- The American coast lies just ahead.
Look, there Steller, America, right there!
(peaceful music)
I wonder if anybody lives here.
- I'll look around.
- [Teacher] And so George Steller was the first
European to set foot on the soil of Alaska.
- I couldn't find anybody.
They've run away.
But look at this jay!
Native to America, I'm sure.
No jays like this one in Siberia.
Yes, I'm sure, there's no question.
This is an American jay and I've seen
plants that are not to be found in Siberia.
We'll have to explore the interior.
- Much too risky.
We're short on food now.
And we're much too far from Kamchatka.
We have to return.
Many of our men are sick, as I am.
- [Georg] Is it scurvy?
- Mm hmm.
- I have herbs that will cure it anyway
for a certain time.
(dramatic music)
- It's a westerly wind.
We'll have to tap, it'll take time.
- We are almost out of water.
But we're near a (inaudible).
We're going to stop.
(water splashing)
We need a sheltered bay.
- I'll go look.
(wood crashing)
- That idiot has destroyed our last lifeboat!
We'll have to chance it.
(dramatic music)
- Uh oh.
(wind howling)
- If you'll just set me down near the fire.
I'll die soon, only a matter of time.
Now listen carefully to me.
My young friend dismantle the Saint Peter,
then try to construct a smaller ship.
Believe me, that's your only chance.
- Yes Captain.
Now try to rest.
(snoring)
(wolf howling)
(screaming)
- Look, there are eyes!
A million eyes!
(groaning)
(men startled)
- Ow, ow.
- Don't worry, I'll get him.
Oh yeah, this is Fox Island.
- No, this is Bering Island.
Our Captain Bering is dead.
Now we will have to survive the winter.
We'll begin by going hunting.
(hammer pounding on stone)
(determined music)
Curious boat there.
I wonder who they are.
- Alexis, you're alive!
Steller!
Ah, where's Captain Bering?
- He died on an island that I honored in his name.
- [Teacher] Bering had achieved an almost superhuman feat.
He covered incredible distances
under conditions that were unbearable.
Along his way, he had towns built,
built forges, introduced agriculture,
and livestock breeding,
discovered Alaska which became a Russian colony.
- I'm pretty sure Alaska isn't Russian.
No, Alaska is an American state, isn't it?
- Quite right.
They purchased it a century later.
It was a good buy.
They discovered gold and oil wells, and,
oh yes, Alaska provided the Americans
with riches worth thousands of times what they paid.
But that kids, is another story.
(upbeat music)