 This is the first film in which Andrei Chadov (qv) and his younger  Aleksei Chadov (qv) appear together on the screen. Having  previously directed Andrei in _Russkoye (2004)_ (qv), director  Aleksandr Veledinsky (qv) chose to work with him again, casting  him in the central role of Kir. At Andreis suggestion, he then cast  Aleksei in a supporting role as a priest.