Actor in the third generation, Director, animator, writer, artist. It seems that all these professions just can’t fit in the same person. But at 85 Vasily Borisovich is not going to stop. Last year he completed a film about the monument to Peter I now seriously intend to engage in historical education of young people. And who, if not the main on-screen detective of the country, the best Holmes (itself the birthplace of sir Arthur Conan Doyle admitted it), to do this. On the eve of the anniversary, we spoke with Vasily Livanov.
“90-e years has led to painful psychological dislocation of our country”
you Have every 5 years to ask, what are these anniversary figures. But you don’t seem eager to take the role of resting on the laurels of the master.
— but what I the mater? Especially resting on its laurels. I’m 20 years working in art. Me very much has been done in various fields — film, theatre, literature, and animation. Now waiting for the delivery of the financial report on the latest film, “the bronze horseman Russia.” It is based on the real history of the monument to Peter the great by the French sculptor Falconet, who specially were invited by Catherine the great.
Viewers of the movie have not seen?
— We were persuaded to show it out of competition at the Moscow film festival. And then he went to Sevastopol at the festival “Golden Vityaz”. There we received the award for “Best film for children”. In the House of cinema it also showed, but there were only friends. Now this coronavirus infection in a slump, so I hope the rental history for us is not over. We’ll release a film about the film and the painting “the Horseshoes” on the equestrian monuments in Russia. In 2022, the whole Russia will celebrate 350 years since the birth of Peter the Great. And our film as it is impossible by the way.
you Have almost the whole family took part in the filming: the wife she has advised on the costumes, his son Boris was played by Grigory Potemkin, and even a granddaughter Eva as one of the maids of honor.
— And the younger son was engaged in all financial Affairs. The result was a family row. To this company we can add President Putin, thanks to which we were able to remove. First, Mr Putin called me to meet him, which was extremely pleasantly surprised. As a result, gave a direct order, so we released the money for “the Copper horseman”. I waited for 10 years for this moment.
Satisfied?
— Very. I think I managed to implement the idea. Now, hopefully, the audience will be of the same opinion.
You talked about the importance of patriotism, especially among young people. And even offered to the Minister of education to learn more about the history of Russia through the film.
— We must create a Studio where the teacher does notü in the class to tell about the main historical events, as did the filmmakers. Students textbooks all don’t remember. But through a movie can get. It will be an educational film program starting in 6th grade. And I’m going to seriously pursue it.
the Idea is not just there. I am horrified by the fact that people know nothing about their country. What you want, even if 10 years ago, I read in the newspaper this story. People with higher education entered the higher Director’s courses of the movie, he is asked: “Who is a monument on the Senate square?” And he says: “Skobelev”. It shocked me so much that I want to remove about this monument.
by the Way, when we were shooting the film about the film, is also interviewed residents of St. Petersburg. So half says they’re not local. And the second says nonsense. Very rarely called of Peter I. It is not just trouble but a disaster!
Why is this total ignorance?
— Because of the 90-ies have led to painful psychological dislocation of our country. What we have now is the result of this dislocation. Now people think it’s normal to separate your life from the life of the homeland. I mean to go abroad. And it destroys first of all those who leave. No happiness there not gained. And who says the opposite is simply the exception that proves the rule.
“How can you sleep due to the fact that you did not invite to the movies?”
as far As I know, you are very strictly watched scenario. Could review of 30 pieces and none to choose from. Is it all bad or do you have strict criteria?
— Oh, it is. And more than once. Remember, here is one such scenario. The film is about how they live the husband with the wife. He is a Director of a Shoe factory, and she works there. The wife is strongly opposed to the husband released some sort of style of shoes. That’s all. I think it is interesting to play such a role? You are no turns, nothing. As a result, she wins. You’re thinking: “That’s nonsense”. And these scripts were in bulk. And the state bought them!
You saw the movies then, given?
— I probably was just lucky and never seen one.
— And was in career points, when you understood that will not pull, will not be able to cope?
— you can’t? My dear, then it is not necessary in the profession to work at all. First, when offered the role, then count on your individuality. You may not like how the drawn image, but quit the role, because they do not pull it, is incompetent. Ask the artist to draw a landscape. If you say: “I can’t”, what he is after this artist? Our profession is much more than an occasional flicker on the screen.
— And the actor must be a concept of professional integrity? For example, only appear in StOasi projects, not sitcoms.
— the Concept of honor should be everyone. While sitcoms bring poverty and lack of money. From good living don’t go there. But this is still a job. I don’t understand the other. When from the lack of roles, the actor begins to sleep. And it happens everywhere. It’s awful. People lose a sense of the profession. How can you become an alcoholic due to the fact that you did not invite to the movies? Go to work as a taxi driver! Yes, anywhere. Live, live! What do you mean I’m not invited, I’ll go buy vodka? Why put yourself in the position of prostitutes dying of hunger, because did not find the client.
— How about the modern interpretations of the classics?
— I think that every actor and Director is evident only in the classics. He can easily cope with modern script and asking for the role of classical literature — a failure. You immediately see a professional and intellectual level of the actor.
— you Can put based on. To take characters, recognizable outline and to write, to rewrite. Many do.
Is stupidity and arrogance. With the classic need to get that close to access features that have not yet been opened, based solely on his texts and in his vision of the world. You can become a co-author of the classics, and not to make their sketches.
— popular Now very tolerant to wind, when it is not important gender, age and skin color.
— It is close to the madhouse. Such artists are not artists need to look for, and a good psychiatrist. How to make Andrei Bolkonsky woman? No, you lie down for a month, I treated.
“Yeltsin sent a company of Riot police right in the club of the interior Ministry. They physically smashed”
— I don’t know about Bolkonsky, but Marina Zudina played Athos in “the Musketeers” Bogomolov. And people were screaming “Bravo”.
— No need of the public to make a fool. She’s a good judge of what is good and what is bad. Ksenia Sobchak, also appeared on the scene, so what? It’s a beer, not art. Last checked not only time, but also the conscience of the Creator.
the impression that you have a relationship with the theatre as something went wrong. Although, it would seem that the legacy of the great matuza Boris Livanov and study at the Shchukin school conducted directly there. What happened?
— the fact that I didn’t have any work. In the Vakhtangov I only played dumb episodes. In parallel I was invited to appear. I gladly took a year off and went to work in the movies. Judge for yourself. In the theater I got 640 rubles at the old rate, and in the movie earned 1800. Well, I had to go back on stage and do nothing? One day, Julius Y. Reisman invited me to audition and then said I have the eyes of an adult male, and took to himself. M�� talked to him after, and he spoke prophetic words to me: “Bob, if you have a specific employment in the theatre, quietly leave. You will be very much to be in a movie”. He was right. I have no regrets, I left the theater and starred in two films for the year.
Is it not called then?
— of Course, he was called. At first I didn’t want to let go of Ruben Nikolaevich Simonov, thanks to which I found myself in the Shchukin. And then called in “Lenkom”. Then Volodya Monks were the chief Director. But I remained loyal to film and played many interesting roles. Although you are right, was a kid the scenes. As a child I watched 37 times “Dead souls” in the Moscow art Theater with his father in the role of nozdrev. It is not always wanted me to take, but I went sneaking backstage or sat in the gallery in the hall. In General I think that my first education was in Theater. It was an amazing show, and my dad was just brilliant. This is called co-authorship with Gogol. It instantly gives the space height. And questions no one is.
— To cast children are always attention. You felt responsible for the name?
I really liked this profession. I tried as much as possible to understand. But no pressure or responsibility for a surname, as you say, not felt. That is, I is not calculated, as the success of the father will affect me, as Konstantin Raikin, for example. I never thought of that. Well, Yes, son of Boris Yeltsin. What? I wanted to please him. And it happened when I was 28 years old. I then starred in the movie “Colleagues”. After the premiere, we covered the home Desk, and, raising his glass, he said he recognizes me artist and respects my way of life.
do you think you’d get an approval, if it went to the artists? Were going, and the whole family draws. Although the profession is not easy, and there is no money.
— But there probably would have been glad. I graduated from the Moscow art Lyceum at the Russian Academy of arts. And passed exams in the Academy, but the desire to become an actor took over. And father, I must say, I didn’t say against. He was afraid of family inertia. If I an actor’s work, then, will blame everything, but me.
— And now drawing?
— recently less, but I always painted. Cartoons mostly, like his father. But Boris did amazing. Preserved thousands of his works. The whole theater redrawn: artists, writers, actors, friends.
is it true that in 1988 you created in Moscow experimental theatre “the Detective” which was placed in the Central house of officers in the Lubyanka?
— Yes, it was. Officially it was a repertory company, because we did not have a permanent company. Although five actors played all the time. Our mission was raising awareness moyoung people. And then came to power Yeltsin. He and his entourage didn’t really need this awareness. And the theater was trashed.
Is such a figure of speech or literally?
— Yes, what here figures? Yeltsin sent a company of Riot police right in the club of the interior Ministry. They physically smashed.
— It happened during a performance?
— No, in the pause. The officer came into my office, closed the door behind him and said, “Vasily Borisovich, excuse me, please. I execute the order”. My office was not touched, and everything else trashed is the scenery took their costumes torn. It was in 1992. And 4 years before that we worked, traveled 15 cities in the Soviet Union with his children’s detective.
why it was called “Detective”? It is associated with Sherlock Holmes?
— No, just put only of the detective plays by many different authors. We Vitosha aluminim together worked there. Wanted to put Conan Doyle, but the theatre was destroyed until now. And Vitaly mefodyevich was a regular Director. Put wonderful play “the Trap” by French playwright Robert Tom. It’s a sad story, of course. But it completed my understanding of such a personality as Boris Yeltsin.
“We made the homeland of Shakespeare to recognize our acting school is the best”
Creative work, perhaps, like children. Like all of the same love, but remember the difficult stages of growing-of creating. For you who were such a difficult child?
Hard to tell. They are all loved, you are right. Maybe that’s why forget about any flaws in the production. For example, before the role of Sherlock Holmes I was already an adult, an accomplished artist and perceived difficulties as a professional task. I knew that before I already played 4 artists. But who can remember? Best review — this is my award of the order of the British Empire. This means that we made the homeland of Shakespeare to recognize our acting school is the best.
— A modern Sherlock with Cumberbatch seen?
— Saw. This is not the story of Conan Doyle. There’s just saved the names of the characters. I then brought the notes from the British press, where these actors said just play the role. And the best Holmes is still Russian. In 1982, the British wrote that we returned him to the national literary heroes.
— the guy Ritchie Movie also watched? There is direct action.
— don’t already know. But I was offered to star him in a small role some Senator. Somehow free. But when Richie came to Moscow, I had a call — they invited me to dinner. I said I was actually having dinner with friends.
— Actor Eugene Steblov once compared you to the knight for a similar life values. Is he right?
— how to disagree with him (laughs). The knights I have always been attracted faithfulness, courage, obotRennes sense of justice and a fight for the heart of lovely ladies. Maybe that’s why I wanted to remove the history of don Quixote. The fact that the French enlightenment was bezdolnyi and very much lied. And a lie that don Quixote is a knight. Although it really is crazy Hidalgo, having read the novels. Why he lived 400 years? Because it embodies pride. Each of us is don Quixote. Everyone knows how another should live. This Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. And Sancho Panza — just donkey shepherd, obsessed to become Governor. There is also now full. But the difference is that he ran away when I got this position, and our officials sit until they zavedut criminal case. I just called the film “don Quixote returns”. He returns to each of us to a greater or lesser extent.
— it is important for You to leave behind a rich legacy?
— of Course, I want to go down in history. But you need to do. And I’m still not sure I can think of. “No, I will not die — the soul of a cherished lyre my ashes will survive and will escape decay — and I will be glorious, until in the sublunary world will live at least one poet”. One can tell you that I go to every home. Whether it’s Sherlock Holmes, Carlson, or Gena the crocodile, I’m welcome everywhere.
— And is the one who looks like you?
— who the hell knows. We haven’t met. That put them all at the table for a delicious lunch to find out.
