For several decades, Yesenin's poems and poems were banned. For the recitation or storage of his works one could get a real term. But despite such severe persecution, people read and loved the peasant poet. Actors of the Yesenin series admitted that the books were in their home libraries. There was a fear of the law, but the love of creativity turned out to be stronger many times.
History of the creation of the series
In the 80s of the last century, Vitaly Bezrukov wrote a story entitled "Sergey Yesenin." He began to take an interest in the life of the poet after filming in the film “Anna Snegina”. Surprisingly, in this picture he played Yesenin. After 35 years, he had to become the father of the poet, and the main role went to his son Sergei Bezrukov.
How to choose actors
The actors and roles of the Esenin series deserve special attention. For the best transmission of the spirit of that time, real professionals were required. The first thing that the audience noticed was the incredible similarity of the actors with the historical figures they had a chance to play. It was according to external data that the selection for the main roles took place. All the actors of the Yesenin series had to not only get acquainted with the biography of their characters, but also be able to convey their characters and manners.
Sergey Bezrukov / Yesenin
In 2005, the Yesenin series was broadcast on the main federal channel. Spectators from the first series noticed the incredible similarity between Bezrukov and the poet. A mop of blond curly hair and a wide smile - this is what Sergei Yesenin remembered to his contemporaries. The actor did not have to memorize the poetry of the poet - he knew almost all the works from the series, as he was a longtime admirer of this outstanding personality. In his interviews, Bezrukov repeatedly said that Yesenin did not believe in suicide and considered the version about the involvement of the Chekists most likely at the moment.
Alexander Mikhailov / Khlystov
The second main role in the film belongs to the investigator MUR. He investigates the circumstances of the death of the poet in the 80s and has a personal interest in this matter. His father was imprisoned for performing songs on Yesenin’s poems. He filed a request for posthumous rehabilitation of the parent and simultaneously ascertains the circumstances of the death of the poet.
Sean Young / Duncan
The role of the world famous dancer Isadora went to the American actress for a reason. I needed an artist who did not need to portray an accent and pretend to be a foreigner. Outward similarity and age also played a role in the selection of candidates. Sean Young had to learn how to dance barefoot and even learn a little poetry verse in Russian. In addition to her, there were other English-speaking actors in the TV series Yesenin, but they played episodic roles.
Ksenia Rappoport / Benislavskaya
An employee of the Cheka in love with the poet, and later the poet’s personal secretary, Galina Benislavskaya was not able to survive the death of her idol. For many years she waited for Yesenin to answer her feelings, but, unfortunately, she did not belong to the type of women who captured the bully’s heart. For him, the girl has become a faithful friend and person who can easily live indefinitely. Ksenia was perfectly able to convey all the despair and pain of a young woman whose love did not die even after the death of the poet. All actors of the Yesenin series admitted that the role of the unhappy secretary was played at the highest level.
Konstantin Khabensky / Trotsky
The role of Lev Davidovich went to the young actor without casting. With the naked eye, one can see how similar these two people are, even when Konstantin is not in the image. The cunning, insinuating and prudent Trotsky performed by Khabensky played a significant role in the success of the television series Yesenin. The actor himself said that it was easy for him to get used to the image of a politician and even convey his style of speech.
Dmitry Scherbina / Mariengof
To play the role of the poet’s best friend, who later becomes a traitor, is not an easy task. The sneak and envious Mariengof for several years was the shadow of Yesenin. Dmitry was able to masterfully convey the whole essence of the petty poet and show his mercantile nature.
Pavel Derevyanko / Ganin
A close friend and the same hooligan guy, as Yesenin himself. The first years in the capital was a constant companion of the poet and more than once came under the supervision of the Cheka. Sergei Alexandrovich often advised a friend not to play with the authorities. After the "Manifesto of Russian Nationalists" was discovered at Alexei Ganin, he was shot.
Gosha Kutsenko / Blyumkin
One of the most mysterious personalities in the history of Russia. Jacob Blyumkin became a close friend of Yesenin and several times saved him from imprisonment. An employee of the Cheka and Trotsky’s right hand was ready to help the poet, but exactly up to the moment when the “master” favored him. As soon as Yesenin refused to cooperate with Lev Daviditch, their friendship broke up.
Gosha Kutsenko brilliantly played the stupid, but loyal dog of his high-ranking master. The artist himself admitted that it was at that time his favorite role. Actors of the Yesenin series in 2005 were fascinated by Kutsenko’s game.
Ekaterina Guseva / Miklashevskaya
The last love of a brawler and a bully. Play the role of the actress in the TV series "Yesenin" in 2005 fell to Ekaterina Guseva. The beautiful and inaccessible Augustus rejected the feelings of the poet. He dedicated several lyric poems to her and resigned himself to refusal.
What is the series about?
According to the plot of the series, Yesenin comes to Petrograd to show his poems to the great Alexander Blok. The fate of the Ryazan poet depends on his decision. Having received the blessing of his idol, Sergei begins to publish his poems in newspapers and is rapidly gaining popularity in the cultural circles of St. Petersburg. But military service interrupts his creative career, and Yesenin goes to the Tsarskoye Selo regiment. Soon he had a chance to attend a dinner with the emperor himself and read poetry to his wife and grand duchesses.
Trotsky and the revolution
After the service, he continues to print in newspapers and magazines. His works attract the attention of Trotsky. He offers the young poet to go on a tour of Russia and read his poems to ordinary people. However, this trip brings only disappointment and pain. Yesenin sees that the revolution did not liberate the peasants, but made them even more poor and unhappy people. Returning, he meets Isadora Duncan and marries the famous dancer.
Duncan and overseas
The wife sees her young husband getting drunk and decides to take him to America. There Yesenin plunges into even greater depression - his poems are foreign to foreigners. Reckless drinking, treason and scandals begin. The family returns to Russia, but from now on they are strangers. At home, the poet learns that he fell out of favor and Trotsky will no longer be his patron. It is hoped that soon Stalin will come to power and the bully will not have to hide from surveillance. He is in a hopeless situation - there is no money, nowhere to live, his friends left him.
Unfulfilled hopes
In the hope that the glory of the great writer Leo Tolstoy will cover him from his pursuers, he will marry his granddaughter Sophia. This marriage was short-lived, and soon the poet leaves his young wife to go to the clinic. But the Chekists get to him, and he is forced to flee to Petersburg. There he expects to live some time in peace and quiet. However, a carelessly dropped phrase on the eve of departure leads to the fact that his former friend Yakov Blyumkin comes with a secret mission to the poet. At night, he and two other Chekists enter Esenin’s room. After a short resistance, one of them kills the poet. Having staged a suicide, they leave with nothing back to Moscow.