From multi-millionaire dissident wine merchants and uncompromising art-loving oligarchs to ‘country set’ tsarist princesses and beautiful supermodels, Rich, Russian and Living in London takes us into the lives of the uber wealthy who have made London their home.  How do they see themselves, how do they see us, what does money mean to them, and who are they…really?

Who really are the super rich Russian elite who have chosen to make London their home? Why have they favoured our capital city? And why do they obsess about the English education system, polo and our monarchy?

We enter the lives of an entrepreneur chased out of Russia for his liberal views and growing bank balance and one of London’s biggest art collectors to hear their views. We tap into the life of Russia’s top supermodel. And as we follow two debutantes preparing for the glitz and glamour of the Russian ball we meet Princess Olga Romanov, now 64, and granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas’s sister, who vividly recalls her coming out as a debutante.

Debunking some of the myths about Russians in London, this film takes us further under their skin than you will have seen before. They love our capital city for its security and freedom, for them it is an English dream. But how do they see us? Why, when in London, do they still feel a need to access their Russian roots and culture, what is it that unites the Russians in London and brings them together for a fairytale night by the banks of the Thames?

RUNTIME:
58 Minutes

PRODUCER:
Olga Betko

DIRECTOR:
Polly Steele

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Brian Woods
Kate Blewett

RELEASED:
2014

Reviews

"What makes this documentary more interesting is that it’s not just about rich Russians and diamond-encrusted cars, it’s also about what they make of us. Plus it puts them into the context of the past 100 years or so of the history of their homeland."
Sam Wollaston - The Guardian

"Polly Steele’s thoughtful film looked under the bonnet of the bling"
Alex Hardy - The Times

"The programme tried to answer why many remain staunchly patriotic while obsessing about English 'high society' icons such as private schools, polo and the monarchy."
Dan Bloom - Daily Mail

"these people have serious cash, which buys them the best houses and flats on the best sites, and of course the best furniture, cars and jewellery"
Alison Graham - Radio Times

"Following entrepreneurs, art collectors and debutantes preparing for a ball, this film aims to poke around in the caviar and debunk some myths"
Ali Catterall - The Guardian

"As this sympathetic film is at pains to point out, Russia is such a vast country that it has produced an abundance of multimillionaires who aren’t totally corrupt and criminal. It’s a refreshing antidote to the usual tired clichés."
David Chater - The Times

"This fascinating documentary seeks to answer that question, finding out just what Russians love about England, and how they view us as a nation."
Sophie Heath - Daily Mail