Petr Shepotinnik

In October of 2015 Marlen Khutsiev turned 90. The master had no intention of retiring, he was working on his new movie. The crew were lucky to be allowed on the set of this film about the relationship of two Titans of Russian literature, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov. The shooting process, recorded over the period of almost a year, constitutes the main part of this documentary entitled Khutsiev. Action Starts!. It also includes Khutsiev's reflections on the nature of creative work and his dramatic creative biography.

The film “We Others Will Not” emerged as a direct continuation of numerous meetings and conversations with Sergei Bodrov Jr. and Alexei Balabanov. The idea to reflect again on the phenomenon of Sergei Bodrov Jr.’s identity belongs to Evgeniy Nikishov and Valeriy Fedorovich. Together we decided to go on this difficult journey. Close friends and colleagues talk about Sergei: the producer Sergei Selyanov, the designer Nadezhda Vasilyeva, the composer Vyacheslav Butusov, the cinematographer Sergei Astakhov, and also… Sergei Bodrov Jr. and the director Alexei Balabanov, whose films “Brother” and “Brother 2” acquired popular fame at the threshold of the 2000s.

A documentary about Andrei Voznesensky, in which the poet, who has already lost his voice from illness, whispers his last poems, talks about himself, about the past and future of Russia.

“Shchedrin Suite” is a candid conversation with the renowned classic. On how he fell in love and was overwhelmed by the beauty of bronze hair and green eyes: the exceptional ballerina Maya Plisetskaya not only became his devoted life companion but also a cherished soul. On how many times he resisted compromising his own conscience and yielding to the omnipotent system. It delves into the composer’s creativity as a profound mystery and an ongoing process. It also reflects on the geniuses whom fate brought into his life: Shostakovich, Rostropovich, Gergiev, and Pierre Cardin. Lastly, it contemplates the world’s current state from the perspective of age and experience.

Oleg Menshikov is one of the most unsolved actors in both cinema and theater. A trail of rumors and opinions accompanies each of his new work. There are many more people who have heard about his theatrical works than those who were lucky enough to see them. Some people adore him and others do not forgive the slightest mistakes. Pyotr Shepotinnik was lucky enough to be admitted to the creative laboratory of actor and director Menshikov and freely observe how film roles and stage productions are created — the performances of Griboyedov's "Woe from Wit" and Gogol's "Players", which had a noisy fame.