The melodramatic comedy "Afonya" (actors L. Kuravlev, B. Brondukov, E. Leonov) is a representative of immortal cinema, classics of Soviet and world cinema. This statement is not in doubt. Since in the days of the USSR, the domestic film industry produced dozens of films that have become iconic for all time, which do not lose their relevance to this day.
Deep, philosophical work
The story of the creation of the painting "Afonya" began with the script of Alexander Brodyansky, a graduate of VGIK. Alexander wrote it as his diploma thesis back in 1973 and received a prize at a screenwriting competition. However, the directors were not in a hurry to realize the idea on the screen until Danelia got acquainted with it and realized that a wonderful movie could be made from what was written. Now the comedy of the outstanding director Georgy Danelia “Afonya” is a film that takes the 15th most prestigious place among domestic films in the history of film distribution in the USSR (the first is “Pirates of the 20th century”, the second is “Moscow does not believe in tears”, and the third - inimitable “Diamond Hand”). Like all the works of the great master George Danelia, familiar from childhood , this tape causes not only smiles and laughter, but also nostalgic sadness. And it makes you seriously think about your life. With superficial lightness, this film is deep and even philosophical.
Plot. Tie
The comedy picture "Afonya" has, at first glance, a simple plot. The main character, a non-good life-burner Afanasy Borshchov (Leonid Kuravlev), works as a plumber and is better known in his circle as Afonya. For his services, he solicits Magarychi from his clients, does not shun "left" earnings, and frankly dares the management in the person of the head of the Housing Office, master Vostryakova (Valentina Talyzina). Together with his friend Fedul (Borislav Brondukov), he seeks an opportunity to drink from morning till night. Even trainees who are sent to the housing office from vocational schools refuse such a mentor, having familiarized themselves with the style and methods of his labor activity.
Continuation
Once in a pub, he accidentally meets an exemplary family man, a plasterer Kolya (Evgeny Leonov), who is soldering. As a result of their adventures, Nikolai drives his wife out of the house, and he comes to live with Borshchov. On the same day, Afonya runs to dances, where she meets a tender and sweet girl Ekaterina Snegireva (Evgenia Simonova). However, he does not attach much importance to this meeting, as he prefers older ladies and has already looked after an interesting lady. That evening, however, like many others, ends badly for the main character, an incident occurs with him, which ends with a police hearing.
Practically climax
The comedy "Afonya" begins to gain momentum in the development of the storyline. Since this was not the first detention of Borshchov, law enforcement authorities report this incident to the Housing Office. According to the traditions of that era, a friendly court is arranged over the plumber , which does not touch at all and does not hurt the feelings of a loafer. But here his temporary companion-in-arms Kolya begins to influence Borshchov in his own way, trying in every way to convince him that his life and principles are wrong. He does it unobtrusively, without moralizing and tedious statements, in a simple, everyday way, in a life-like way. And this is precisely the main value of their meeting and communication. And the nurse Katya, as it turned out, took a firm place in the heart of the protagonist, displacing more spectacular young ladies.
Ingenious screen wizards
The success of the film "Afonya", whose actors were already known to the Soviet audience, was predictable. It could not be otherwise, because the real screen masters gathered in the picture.
Leonid Kuravlev - a well-known Soviet and Russian film and theater actor, has awards Honored Artist of the RSFSR and People's Artist of the RSFSR. He is a characteristic, pronounced actor, episode master. His filmography is impressive: “Such a guy lives”, “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”, “Viy”, “It cannot be!”, “The meeting place cannot be changed”, “Golden Calf”, “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, “Look for a Woman” etc. For the main male role in the film "Afonya" the actors tried various and eminent, among them Vladimir Vysotsky, Nikolai Karachentsov, Viktor Proskurin, Vladimir Nosik, Vladimir Menshov, George Burkov and others. But they looked either powerfully and seriously, or too positively, and the director needed more humor for the lead actor to be convincing in the hypostasis of booze and rowdy. Therefore, it was in Kuravlev that Danelia found a balance of negative and positive qualities, charm and sloppiness, seriousness and humor.
From the episode make candy
Borislav Brondukov - Ukrainian and Soviet actor. He has the title of People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, the first laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine named after A. Dovzhenko. The actor is known to a wide audience for the role of booze, lackey and rogues, who invariably turned out to be charming and incredibly reliable. Although in his filmography there are also tragic, serious roles: “A Flower on a Stone”, “A Stone Cross”, the series “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Garage”, “Green Van”, “We Are from Jazz”, “Once Upon a Time ". Surprisingly, sometimes the actor consciously refused the main roles, since, according to his own statement, he could turn any, even a secondary episode, his skill into candy. Confirmation of these words can serve as a curious incident that happened with Brondukov on the set of "Afoni". In the life of a non-drinking actor, during a stage production in a restaurant, they did not want to let him in when he, without changing clothes, went out to smoke. Borislav was mistaken for a local alcoholic.
Two fateful characters
Actors E. Leonov and E. Simonova performed the roles of extremely important characters in the film "Afonya". Each of them became a symbolic lifebuoy, which life threw to the protagonist. They see in Borshchovo a good guy with golden hands, and not a life-burner, so they carefully try to set the right path.
Evgeny Leonov is a Soviet and Russian film and theater actor who played the role of Koli's caring plasterer. His titles and awards are impressive: People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the USSR State Prize and the State Prize of the Russian Federation. To list all the filmography of an outstanding actor is simply unrealistic, it is huge.
Evgenia Simonova - the performer of the role of the nurse Snegireva. Katya could be played by magnificent actresses Anna Kamenkova or Elena Prudnikova, but the director was afraid that the picture might turn out to be too serious. Simonova also gave the tape the necessary lightness.
Comedy about the secrets of the Russian soul
"Afonya" is a masterpiece film that has not lost its relevance decades later, a popularly beloved one who never tire of quoting. When creating such a film, only an interesting script, ingenious directorial vision, and inimitable acting skills are not enough, something else is needed, from above. And this spark, of course, is in this picture, so it remains a masterpiece for all time. The film by George Danelia “Afonya”, with all its comedy, is actually a film about loneliness and about the secrets of the Russian soul. He demonstrates all the significant facets of human immorality and the subsequent spiritual degeneration of the individual. This film is a classic of the Soviet era, professionally shot by truly brilliant people.