The Barber of Siberia is an epic romantic drama film, directed by Nikita Mikhalkov. The movie is set in the late 19th century and revolves around the story of Douglas (Richard Harris), a Scottish inventor and entrepreneur who travels to Russia with his assistant Jane (Julia Ormond) to sell his latest invention, a new steam-powered timber harvester.
In Russia, they meet a range of colorful characters, including a group of eccentric aristocrats, military officers, and high-ranking officials. Douglas's innovation quickly arouses the interest of the Russian authorities, who see it as an opportunity to expand their lumber industry or use it in the military.
Despite their difficulties, Jane and Douglas adopt to the exotic new surroundings, and they even attend the luxurious masked ball thrown by the General's wife. Along the way, Jane falls in love with a handsome young cadet, Andrej Tolstoy (Oleg Menshikov), with whom she shares a mutual interest in music, particularly opera. Meanwhile, General Radlov (played by Mikhalkov himself) is captivated by Jane's beauty and charms and desires to marry her.
Amidst the backdrop of the imposing and often stark landscapes of Siberia, with its wide open spaces and brutal winters, The Barber of Siberia explores themes such as love, cultural differences, and the complexities of Russian society during the 1800s. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1999.