Sokurov Alexander Nikolaevich - Soviet and Russian film director, actor and screenwriter, Honored Artist, People's Artist of Russia. He is deep, solid and incredibly gifted. His ingenious works have gained recognition in many countries of the world, but in the homeland of the film, masters often do not immediately reach the target audience. A complex, often incomprehensible, but no less talented person. Today is our story about him.
Childhood
The biography of the filmmaker begins its countdown in June 1951. The boy was born in the Irkutsk region. Alexander Nikolayevich’s father was a military man, and the man was constantly sent to different parts of the country. These episodes from his life are well remembered by Alexander Sokurov. The family often moved from place to place. Little Sasha’s childhood passed on the road - he had to constantly change schools, leave friends, meet new people. Life threw him from one side to the other. Alexander Nikolaevich went to school in Poland, but he was finishing basic education already in Turkmenistan.
By the way, the place where Alexander Sokurov was born, the village of Podorvikha, was flooded in 1956 when the
Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station was commissioned.
After school, Alexander Nikolaevich Sokurov entered the history department of Gorky State University. Already during his studies, the young man showed incredible zeal and interest in everything that was connected with television, tried to develop independently in this area. He released several television films, worked on the preparation of live programs on Gorky television. In 1974, Alexander Nikolayevich graduated from university and received a diploma of historian.
Institute of Cinematography
A year later, Alexander Nikolaevich Sokurov entered VGIK at the faculty of directing. The future film guru got into the workshop of A.M. Zguridi, where students were taught documentary directing, techniques for shooting popular science films. Studying was easy for Sokurov; he plunged headlong into the creative process. For successful study, the young man received a scholarship named after Eisenstein. However, not everything was smooth and cloudless. Relations between Sokurov and representatives of the administration of the institute, as well as the leaders of the Goskino, escalated day by day. Alexander Nikolaevich was labeled an anti-Soviet, accused of formalism, his student work was not recognized and not accepted. Due to the constant confrontation, it was easier and more correct for Sokurov to finish his studies as soon as possible, having passed all the exams ahead of schedule, which, in fact, he did in 1979.
By the way, the first picture of the beginning director - “The Lonely Voice of a Man”, based on Andrei Platonov — which was exhibited as a graduation work, was not set off by the institute’s commission. All materials should have been destroyed, but the picture miraculously survived - Sokurov and a friend simply stole it from the archive. Later, the film was awarded prestigious awards at international film festivals.
First creative steps
Even in his student years, the director Sokurov met with the screenwriter Yuri Arabov, who became his like-minded artist and life mate. Another person in the life of Sokurov, who appreciated his first directorial work and subsequent works, was director Tarkovsky.
Alexander Nikolayevich shot his first feature films at the Lenfilm film studio, where in 1980 he got on the recommendation of Andrei Tarkovsky. In parallel, the director worked on documentary films - he collaborated with the Leningrad Documentary Film Studio. In general, Sokurov really liked Mosfilm, and under other circumstances he would very much like to work there. However, the director did not suit the working conditions of the Moscow film studio at all.
I must say that Sokurov's debut paintings caused discontent of the authorities, and they were destined to lie on the shelf for a long period of time - the movies were not released for rent. Sokurov realized that he was objectionable to the political elite, realized that he was threatened with physical violence, but did not leave the country, although there were opportunities. “I always remembered that I was Russian,” says Alexander Sokurov. Nationality is belonging to a certain nation, nationality, it is the language, ritual and faith of the fathers. For the hero of our story, Homeland is Russia.
Filmography
The films that Sokurov makes are difficult, they have a secret meaning, which you can read often between the lines, and not the first time. They make you think in a focused and continuous way and see what you sometimes do not want to see. Filmed sometimes in the format of documentary films, sometimes in the form of a parable, they always teach someone interested in something. This is not an entertaining movie for relaxing with popcorn and soda - “Conversations with Solzhenitsyn,” “Reading the Blockade Book,” “Father and Son,” “Mother and Son,” prompting people to think about serious things.
Alexander Sokurov is a director with eighteen feature films behind him, over thirty documentaries, dubbing, and work as a screenwriter. In addition, the maestro has an acting experience in the piggy bank. In 1980, Alexander Nikolaevich starred in the film “You Must Live” by Vladimir Chumak. This military-themed painting, based on the story of Smolyanitsky, united under its wing a whole inflorescence of the most talented artists of Soviet cinema, including Irina Muravyova, Igor Kvasha, Evgeny Steblov, Marina Dyuzheva and others.
Thaw
At the end of the 1980s, a new round was outlined in the creative development of director Alexander Sokurov.
His paintings, which were initially banned from showing, finally reached the target audience. Moreover, they were not only able to see ordinary inhabitants, but members of the jury appreciated at various film festivals, including international ones. The director tirelessly emphasized that his homeland is Russia, and Alexander Sokurov, whose nationality is Russian, always remembers this. I must say that thanks to the paintings by Sokurov, the director’s homeland was presented at the festivals very worthily.
For a decade, starting in 1980, Alexander Nikolaevich worked hard and fruitfully. Often in one year he managed to give life to several films. In parallel with the filming, director Sokurov taught beginner colleagues at Lenfilm, and was a television presenter. The film director has released a series of programs called "Sokurov Island" in which he, along with the viewer, searched for answers to many pressing questions; debated with the audience about the place of cinema in the modern life of society.
In addition, Alexander Sokurov conducted charity programs on the radio for youth.
What is the story of Francophonie?
Another picture in which Sokurov directly participated was the film “Francophonie” - a completely fresh film, released in 2015. The work received recognition at the Venice Film Festival and seriously stirred up society.
What is Francophonie talking about? Sokurov made a film about Paris, which was occupied by the Nazis in 1940. It talks about how the Frenchman, the director of the Louvre, and the German, sent to oversee the museum, did what they did not expect from them - they saved the Louvre’s collection from ruin. Francophonie is a film that screams about the need to save European cultural property. And the storyline in it is by no means invented, not inspired by abstract thoughts. The film, shot by the master of cinema, reflects the opinion of Alexander Sokurov about the current situation in the world - about the clash of Muslim and Christian worlds, about the inevitability of a humanitarian catastrophe, which can still be prevented. The master believes that the most important thing now is to realize this and urgently take something.
Alexander Nikolaevich does not hesitate to indicate his position and his attitude to everything that happens in the modern world. He is sincerely convinced that the fundamental foundations of Christianity and the values that have worked so hard for centuries are now in danger of extinction. Under the pressure of representatives of Muslim culture - people of a different warehouse, a different approach to life and principles in general - the values of the Old World can disappear forever, sink into the abyss of nothingness. And this is scary. A hint of this situation and reflects the picture "Francophonie."
Sokurov emphasizes that he respects people of Muslim faith with great respect, but believes that “we” simply need to stay at a distance from each other.
Prizes and awards
Alexander Nikolaevich Sokurov is an unusual person. It is difficult to say what is the secret of his success. He knows and loves the business he is engaged in. Sokurov is working consistently, disciplined and clearly. From his own words, organizationally it’s easy to work with him. His policy is understandable, it does not conceal any hidden currents and pitfalls. In the creative plan, of course, everything is different.
Nevertheless, the director Sokurov in his track record has so many awards, regalia and marks that at first it seems incredible. The master’s works have more than once been nominated for prizes at international festivals: the Golden Bear Prize of the Berlin Film Festival; Nika Award for the film Lonely Man's Voice; Prize of the Moscow Tarkovsky Film Festival; Russian film critics award and a special jury prize for the film “Mother and Son”. His trophies include a prize for a fine decision in the film "Russian Ark" at the Toronto Film Festival; special prize in São Paulo for his overall contribution to the cinema; prize of the Argentine Film Critics Association for the film "Russian Ark"; prize for "For the artistic language that influenced the world cinema."
State Prize of Russia
In addition to these marks, there is also recognition of Sokurov as a filmmaker and person. In 1995, Alexander Nikolaevich was named one of the hundred best directors of world cinema; in 1997 - Honored Artist of Russia.
In 2004, Sokurov was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of Russia. He also has significant awards - the Order of the Rising Sun and the officer cross of the Order of Arts and Literature. Repeatedly Sokurov was nominated for the State Prize of Russia. In 2014, he was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art.
In general, the maestro is a rather private person - Alexander Sokurov does not like to communicate with journalists heart to heart. The personal life of the master of cinema is a closed topic. Although sometimes the director can share some details of his creative biography.
In one conversation, Alexander Nikolaevich spoke about the procedure for awarding the State Prize. It turns out that this process is lengthy and consists of several stages. The list of candidates is first agreed upon by the Presidential Council on Culture and Art. The list is discussed, a vote is being held, and as a result, the remaining candidates go to the president for approval. He gives a resolution, and after some time all the candidates fall into the procedure for presenting awards. As part of the event, a reception is organized with the participation of the head of state, participants preliminarily undergo a rehearsal of the solemn part. According to Alexander Nikolayevich, participating in the event is not easy - it is very exciting and takes a lot of energy.
Speaking about creative plans, director Sokurov admits that the success of Francophonie did not prompt him to rest on his laurels. The maestro is full of creative ideas, but has not yet revealed the details of his projects - he is afraid to jinx it.