In Soviet times, the cinema of Russia and the CIS countries was at the peak of its heyday. Famous directors created simple, understandable, but at the same time masterpieces, in which everything was in moderation. Many masters have already passed away, and, unfortunately, no one has taken their place. But there are modern representatives of the world of cinema, which are especially popular.
Famous Soviet directors: Eldar Ryazanov
Of course, you cannot list all worthy Soviet directors, simply because there were too many of them - from Stanislavsky and Vakhtangov to Menshov, Maslennikov, Druzhinina and many others.
But the list titled “Famous Directors of the USSR” would be incomplete if the name of Eldar Ryazanov, a great master of comedies, had not been indicated there.
Ryazanov with his paintings penetrated the very heart of the culture of the Soviet period. Every New Year for people began with “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath” or with “Carnival Night”. Good and funny films such as Office Romance, Old Nags, Hussar Ballad, and Station for Two were broadcast on central television day by day. The value of Ryazanov's paintings was that the viewer during the viewing had the opportunity to laugh and feel sad, and sometimes even cry.
The master of Soviet cinema passed away in 2015.
George Danelia and Leonid Gaidai
Well-known directors of the Soviet period mainly worked in the genre of drama or lyrical comedy.
The same can be said of Tbilisi-born George Danelia, who directed such cult films as “I Walk in Moscow”, “Afonya” and “Mimino”. Danelia's paintings have long been disassembled into quotes. Who does not know Valiko’s phrase “I want Larisa Ivanovna”?
Leonid Gaidai, the creator of the legendary nonsense Shurik, worked in a slightly different style. Famous directors in Soviet times tried to smooth and disguise their satire on Soviet everyday life. Leonid Gaidai used very accurate and sharp humor. The heroes of his films were atypical people: moonshiners, swindlers, adventurers, negligent officials. Among the best creations of Gaidai - a cycle called "Operation Y", as well as "Caucasian captive", "12 chairs" and "Diamond arm".
Famous theater directors: Mark Zakharov and Oleg Efremov
Significant people also worked in the theater field. True, these directors rarely made films, and these pictures were not always popular due to their excessive "theatricality".
For example, Mark Zakharov is famous primarily for his musical and theatrical productions (Juno and Avos, Star and Death of Joaquin Murieta). The secret of his success was not only the ability to find an interesting stage solution to the play, but also to select unique musical material for it. Zakharov worked closely with composer Alexei Rybnikov, who knew how to write real hits for productions of the master.
Films Zakharov also shot: “Formula of love”, “12 chairs”, “Ordinary miracle”. But these paintings are filled with metaphors and philosophical meaning, therefore they were not a product for an ordinary Soviet citizen.
Oleg Efremov is no less famous person in the theater world, artistic director of the Sovremennik Theater. In cinema, however, he tried his hand as a director, only a few times.
Nikita Mikhalkov and Stanislav Govorukhin
The most famous directors of the Soviet period, who were able to stay afloat even after the collapse of the country and cinema, were Mikhalkov and Govorukhin.
Nikita Mikhalkov released his first film in the late 60s. In the 1970s, he shot the popular paintings “Slave of Love” and “A Few Days from Oblomov's Life”. In 1994, Mikhalkov received an Oscar for his tape entitled Burnt by the Sun. Then there was the spectacular drama "The Barber of Siberia" and the film "Sunstroke", which in 2016 will claim the Oscar. Also, Nikita Sergeevich is the permanent chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia.
Stanislav Govorukhin did not receive the Oscars, but he made cult films that mean a lot to the Russian audience: Vertical, Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed, Searching for Captain Grant. In the 2000s, viewers saw no less exciting paintings “Voroshilovsky shooter” and “Bless the woman”. Recently, the master released the film “The End of a Beautiful Era” based on the stories of Sergei Dovlatov.
Vladimir Bortko
Vladimir Bortko managed to take off a little in the Soviet period. But his films are filled with drama and will not leave anyone indifferent: “The blonde around the corner” is the story of a loser scientist, broken by fate; “Dog Heart” is the second and rather successful film adaptation of Bulgakov’s immortal work; “Afghan Break” is a dramatic description of a difficult period in Soviet history.
In the 2000s, the director switched to the format of the series, but the projects he created were no worse than any full-length film: the 1st and 2nd seasons of Gangster Petersburg, Idiot, The Master and Margarita. Bortko also shot the full-length film "Taras Bulba" based on the story of Gogol. The project involved international cast.
Sergey Bondarchuk
In the 60s. of the last century, Sergey Bondarchuk shot the cult picture "War and Peace", which conquered many countries and states, and also won an Oscar. Since then, not a single director, even Hollywood, was able to create a picture based on the work of L. Tolstoy better and better.
Sergey Bondarchuk became the founder of one of the most famous cinematic dynasties in Russia.
Andrey Kravchuk
Famous Russian directors who can make not only commercial, but also feature films, are a minority today.
In their attempts to make a purely “Hollywood” movie, representatives of Russian cinema are often ridiculous, since they depart from the very essence of Russian culture: all the best works of Russian art are primarily psychological and sensual, and only then are spectacular in form.
One of the few who cares about content and entertainment at the same time is Andrey Kravchuk. It's hard to find fault with his Admiral tape: the project is filled with meaning, clothed in an attractive form. Moreover, the film paid off at the box office.
Now Kravchuk is working on the painting “Viking”, which will premiere at the end of 2016. So far, no one knows if the script is good. But the first trailer showed that the sight would be quite exciting.