Ewan McGregor and His Mustache Debuts in ‘Gentleman in Moscow’
The first thing you need to know about A Gentleman in Moscow is that its titular Moscow-based gentleman, played by Ewan McGregor, goes by several names. His full title is officially “Count Alexander Rostov.” Occasionally, he’s called “the Count.” Sometimes, he’s just called “Alexander.” And, in the premiere of the Showtime adaptation based on Amor Towles’ novel of the same name, you’ll also hear friends call him “Sasha,” a nickname for the name Alexander in Russia.
In fact, Alexander is about the only one who refers to himself as a “gentleman” like the title. In the first episode, we watch Alexander ostracized and outcast by the current party controlling Russia in 1921, who call him a “noble” as if the word was the dirtiest, nastiest title, a classification one would hope to never be placed into. Following the 1917 revolution and execution of Russia’s royal family, the country is now sorting through the wealthiest of the land and finding different ways to torture them.
Alexander is one of those lucky-turned-unlucky folks. He left for Paris in 1914 ahead of the revolution, returning in 1918, a year after it had ended. Current party leaders interrogate Alexander, who mocks them with endless wit and a cheery sense of humor in dire circumstances. It doesn’t go over well. Alexander, who is currently staying at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, is sentenced to spend the rest of his days locked up at the grand locale. If Eloise could do it, why can’t Alexander? Unfortunately, Sasha isn’t allowed to live in the same room he’s been living in since he checked in a few years ago. He’ll now have to reside in the old servants’ quarters, which are about as appealing as a dorm room without modern technology.