“Culture is the only refuge where one can escape”

Who about what, and lousy about the bath. Yes, I’m talking about culture again. I remember August 19, 1991. Time program. First, the decision of the State Emergency Committee, 10 acres, the unity of the Union, Gorbachev, who was absent “due to illness”. Army order to uncover and enter. Then an amazing report by Sergei Medvedev from the White House right from the barricades under construction (what freedom of speech was then, which even Yazov and Kryuchkov could not, did not want to stop, missed). And suddenly, in conclusion, under the heading “About culture” they show an art exhibition, a vernissage, and there people walk and look. “How? I thought then. How can they? There is a coup d’état, a revolution in the country, and they calmly enjoy the beautiful! But who are they then?

Now, after 30 years of chatter, timelessness, it seems to me that these people were right. They thought about eternity. Revolutions, coups, presidents come and go, but art remains forever.

Later, however, the defenders of the White House began to be ashamed of their heroic, noble impulse, to talk about the mistakes of youth. What is there to be ashamed of? For me, those three days that shook the world, that disinterested brotherhood, that feeling, the feeling of freedom, are probably the best thing that happened in my life.

… So I’m talking about culture, you haven’t forgotten? I watch the program “Observer” (“Culture”) in the morning and again I am surprised: how can they? There is a special military operation in the country and its environs, and they are sitting in a bright studio, talking about cinema, theater, painting, ballet… Are you crazy?

And again I put myself in my place, put my brains in a pile: culture is the only refuge where you can be saved. Culture, enlightenment is the place of our assembly, the preservation of the spirit. No, they say, this is a departure from reality. I agree, a kind of internal emigration, as many in the USSR did. The search for protection, faith, faithful pier.

“Observer” is the best, most intellectual talk show about culture on Russian TV. Not media people come there, not PR for every occasion – art historians, scientists, directors, writers … It seems that they live a parallel life, but that’s what life is. Culture does not tolerate fuss. The magic of conversation on a given spiritual topic, the brilliance of knowledge, the amazing Russian language – here it is really great and powerful – fascinates, and for this hour you are carried away from sinful existence somewhere far, far away. There is light, there is soul, mind, honor and conscience.

Nothing would have happened without the presenters, here they are: Andrey Maksimov, Fekla Tolstaya, Evgeny Grigoriev, Sergey Solovyov, Yulia Pankratova, Anna Appolonova. They are always on topic, in tempo-rhythm, in tact, they are excellent conductors of this spirit-uplifting symphony-conversation. I would like to single out, mark everyone, but especially Fekla. I think great-great-great-grandfather would not be ashamed of her, but he would be proud of her.

In fact, this is the Russian world, our soft power. You won’t be forced to be nice. “Believe the historian, you can’t make happy against your will,” this is Kostya from Pokrovsky Gates. The Russian world is our great culture, literature, music, painting. The world of art, Russian art – that’s what should be attractive to everyone.

… There was such a wonderful actor Vladimir Ivashov. At 19, after The Ballad of a Soldier, he became a global superstar. And then his career did not work out, it did not work out. Like Benjamin Button, in the acting environment, he did the opposite. In the 90s, when the cinema ended, there was no work, he became a laborer at a construction site. He died at the age of 55. Shortly before his death, they remembered him, invited him to the festival, and there, going on stage, this most worthy person said: “There is no need to perform feats in life, one must not commit meanness in life.”

Culture, true penetration into it – that can protect against meanness at any time. Culture is like that beauty that will not save the world.

Voroshilov Sharpshooter

Five films for the 95th anniversary of Mikhail Ulyanov on OTR. Only five. And how many there are!

“You are a good man, but not an eagle!” – this is Mordyukova Ulyanov in “A Simple Story”. Here he really is not an eagle – he plays like that. But in fact, an eagle, but what!

There were no roles that were not subject to him. “Women, close your ears!” It’s him in The President. Well, so combative. And in “Transit” with Neelova! This is a man, and how not to fall in love with such a man, and in “Running” this General Charnota, kissing Yevstigneev so relish, his hamstrings are shaking. And how is he in “twenty-one”! Wow! And what difference does it make what’s in the pants?

And this is the great Roman emperor with the beautiful Yulia Borisova. The beauty that is crazy about him. And in the “Warsaw Melody” with her – so subtly, in halftones. Here he is all from the past, from memory.

And in Mikhalkov’s “Without Witnesses” – only he and Kupchenko. He is a cunning, impudent, fidgety, virtuoso, Gogolian scoundrel in our time.

And “Voroshilovsky shooter” is the last role of the great Master, a testament to all of us for the future.

And Tevye the milkman. Russian, Russian, but what a Jew!

Did he have flaws? There were, of course. Marshal Zhukov is only he, Ulyanov, and who else. He did not allow anyone else to Zhukov.

And in the film “Egor Bulychev and Others” from Sergei Solovyov – the main role, of course. But next to him, Smoktunovsky the jester could not stand it, he understood that he would definitely outplay him. He insisted on changing the genius for the magnificent Lev Durov – and there he already shone.

But these shortcomings only continue its virtues. The virtues of a great artist, better than which there is none.