Aleksandr Dyatlov

Alexandr Mikhailovich Dyatlov

facecast: Mads Mikkelsen

Alexandr Mikhailovich Dyatlov - Sasha to his friends and family - is an inventor and designer of machines. Prior to being forced to flee Russia, he worked as a clockwork artisan for the Faberge Atelier in Saint-Petersburg-in-the-Air. He is married to the ballerina Aishwarya Dyatlova.

## Background

Sasha was born in 1868 in Saint-Petersburg-in-the-Air. His father disappeared before he was born, and his mother died shortly after, leaving him and his older sister Tatiana in the care of their grandparents. They never spoke about his parents, even to the point of giving Sasha and his sister their grandfather's name - Mikhail - for their patronymic in place of their father's.

Always with an artistic eye for design, Sasha won a scholarship to the Saint Petersburg State University where he studied design and engineering, focusing on clockwork and small machinary. It was also here that he first made friends with young men and women involved with the Communist Party that was beginning to gain popularity, especially among students and the working class.

After graduating he worked for a couple of different watchmakers in the city before his entry into a jewelry design competition got the attention of one of the heads at Faberge, and they hired him to work in their studios. It was at this point in his life that Sasha began to get more involved in politics; being an artisan for such a prestigious company meant that he began to see first hand how the upper classes of Russian society were living while the lowest ones suffered. He soon learned that he was not the only employee to harbor such feelings, and began to attend meetings and become more directly involved in the groups efforts in the city.

Sasha has always enjoyed arts and the theater, and it was little surprise to anyone who knew him when he met and fell in love with Aishwarya Dyatlova, a star ballerina with the Imperial Ballet.

## Personality & Appearence

Sasha is a generally quiet and reserved man. He is not always the quickest to befriend someone, but is loyal when he does. Many people interpret his demeanor as stand-offish, when in truth it is something closer to shyness.

Despite his enjoyment of the aspects of life many of his compatriots consider 'bourgeoisie,' Sasha has developed strong feelings about the treatment of the lower classes. While he may not agree with the more extreme aspects of Communism, he strongly believes that Russia cannot continue as it is under Imperial rule, and that unfortunately the only way to end it is most likely a revolution.

Sasha takes pride in his appearence; he enjoys wearing the latest fashions, and Aishwarya likes to brag about having a husband not just willing but often eager to go shopping with her.

## Relationships

* Aishwarya Dyatlova - Sasha loves his wife dearly, and takes great delight in ensuring her comfort and happiness. Indeed worry for her wellbeing is often what gives him pause in the area of his political activities (though she is the first to tell him to not worry about her so muc). Matched in interests and wit, the two have a close and loving marriage and friendship.
* Ulyana Dyatlova - Sasha's grandmother took on the role of a mother to him, something he is eternally grateful for.
* Tatiana Dyatlova - He is not close to his older sister; with a fifteen year age gap between them, Tatiana had already moved out of the house by the time he was four. They keep in touch, but Tatiana is generally distant with him. This is something that has always perplexed Sasha, and he suspects it has something to do with their parents, who Tatiana knew and he did not.