Film about czar’s romance to premiere

MOSCOW — A film inspired by the love affair between a ballerina and Russia’s last czar is having its Moscow premiere despite sparking outrage from some Russians. Hard-line nationalists and some Orthodox believers see “Matilda’’ as blasphemy against Emperor Nicholas II, who is glorified as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church.

The controversy has highlighted the increasing assertiveness of radical religious activists and a growing conservative streak in Russia’s society.

The film loosely tells the story of Nicholas II’S infatuation with ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. What started out nearly a year ago as a petition campaign to protest the film took violent turns in recent months.