Yuri Kara is a director known for the films Tomorrow Was War, Thieves-in-Law, and the film adaptation of The Master and Margarita, which was released only 11 years after its creation. The creative path of the Russian cinematographer is described in the article.
Youth
Yuri Viktorovich Kara was born in 1954 in the city of Donetsk, which was then called Stalin. The future director since childhood dreamed of cinema. After graduating from school, he left for Moscow, but did not enroll at VGIK, but at the Institute of Steel and Alloys.
In 1978, Yuri Kara received a diploma and returned to Donetsk. In his hometown, he defended his candidacy and only after that, in 1982, entered the Institute of Cinematography in Moscow.
Debut movie
They started talking about the young director in cinematic circles in 1987, when he presented to the public his diploma film "Tomorrow Was the War." It is noteworthy that in the first film of Yuri Kara, the actors starred for free.
The story by which this picture was shot, Boris Vasilyev wrote in 1972. However, censorship then banned the work. The film is about the last days before the war, about the victims of Stalinist repressions, about the difficult relationship of teenagers with teachers. The father of one of the schoolgirls is arrested, she becomes the daughter of an "enemy of the people." But, not wanting to renounce him, commits suicide.
The film was played by Sergey Nikonenko, Nina Ruslanova, Vera Alentova, Natalya Negoda, Irina Cherichenko. The picture was awarded several awards, not only in the Soviet Union, but also in France, Spain, Poland, Germany. But the main thing for the young director Yuri Kara was the high praise of Boris Vasiliev. The writer admitted that when he looked at the picture, he cried.
"Thieves in law"
The following year, Yuri Kara made his second film. This time he took as a basis the stories of Fazil Iskander. "Thieves in law" - the first Soviet picture, which shows the world of organized crime. However, as critics noted, Kara significantly departed from the literary source. If the tragedy of a person occupies the main place in Iskander’s stories, in the picture the emphasis is on the criminal situation in the country.
This film was planned by Yuri Kara in Abkhazia. But local authorities did not support him, because the main character, a criminal authority, is a native of Sukhumi. Without the support of the police it was impossible to remove the chase, and the director had to postpone the shooting in Crimea. About a hundred Yalta residents were involved in the crowd.
The film was played by Anna Samokhina, Valentin Gaft, Boris Shcherbakov. Zinovy ​​Gerdt was nominated for a Nick Prize for a supporting role.
In 1989, Yuri Kara made another film, but this picture did not cause a response from the viewer. And then came a five-year break. The director was preparing to work on the film adaptation of Bulgakov’s novel "The Master and Margarita."
Yuri Kara did not find a common language with the producers, as a result of which the picture was released only in 2011. This is the official version. There is also a mystical one, according to which every actor or director who takes part in the filming of a film based on Bulgakov’s book is in trouble. However, this version was refuted by Vladimir Bortko, who shot in 2005 a series based on a cult novel.
"Master and Margarita" by Yuri Kara
In this film adaptation, there are significant differences with the work of Bulgakov. So, at the ball at Satan there are Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon, Mazepa and other legendary political leaders. Probably, such a directorial move was caused by the special interest of the audience in the first two figures. In addition, the film lacks many famous scenes, for example, the unforgettable dialogue of the Behemoth with Poplavsky.
In the film, Yuri Kara starred Victor Rakov and Anastasia Vertinsky. Yeshua was played by Nikolai Burlyaev, Wolanda - Valentin Gaft. The role of Pontius Pilate was played by Mikhail Ulyanov. The film, which was aired in April 2011, is an abridged version.
In the nineties, Yuri Kara did not shoot a movie, except for an attempt to film "Masters and Margarita." The first film after a long break was released in 2001.
"I am a doll"
The action movie of Yuri Kara was released in 2002. The main character is a commando who during the conflict in the North Caucasus participates in the defense of a small mountain settlement. His role was played by Alexander Domogarov. Aristarkh Livanov, Olga Sumskaya, Sergey Nikonenko also played in the film. The shooting took place near the city, where in the eighties the picture "Thieves in Law" was created - in the vicinity of Yalta.
"Star of the era"
The main character of the picture is an aging drinking actress. In the past, she has a bright, beautiful life. In the future, death alone. Valentina Sedova recalls her youth, first love, her husband, a famous poet, who dedicated her best lyrical works to her. This film is based on the biography of the forties star Valentina Serova. The main role was played by Marina Alexandrova.
Korolev
The premiere of the feature film dedicated to the Soviet scientist took place in 2007. In the thirties, Sergey Korolev was accused of sabotage and embezzlement of money for rocket science. After a formal trial, he was sent to hard labor in Magadan. The role of the Queen in the film by Yuri Kara was played by Sergey Astakhov.
"Reporters"
In May 2009, a detective four-part film based on the work of V. Ivanov-Tagansky was shown on Russian television. The main role was played by Boris Shcherbakov. Both viewers and critics reacted very coldly to this picture.
"Hamlet. XXI Century"
This is a rather unusual adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy. The storyline of Hamlet is preserved, but events take place in the 21st century. The main character and Laertes compete in street racing on expensive sports cars. Claudius and Gertrude celebrate their wedding in a nightclub. The film was played by Gela Meskhi, Danila Kozlovsky, Evgeny Kryukov, Dmitry Dyuzhev.