Alexander Bashirov: “Someone should bring joy, even as a baddy”

Alexander Bashirov: “Someone should bring joy, even as a baddy”

<p> (KZN.RU, February 16, Alsu Safina). A small dark basement, double bunks, on which old people and children sit and lie. “And, action!” and there is complete silence on the set. Footsteps of the frightened and confused Zuleikha are the only sound. She, escorted by the Red Army officer, is going down to the prison. And take by take it goes. “Boy with a rope!” Just lie as you were before!” you can hear commands on the set... Today, episodes of the Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes” were shooting at the Kazan Kremlin. It based on the novel of the same name by Guzel Yakhina with Chulpan Khamatova, Sergey Makovetsky, and Alexander Bashirov. </p> <p> </p> <p> The shooting process took place on Kremlevskaya Street, as well as on the territory of the Kremlin. In particular, it was in the basement of the restored building of government offices, which at the time of shooting turned into a transit prison, where Zuleikha was brought along with others. The role of the main character in the movie is performed by Chulpan Khamatova, a People’s Artist of Russia. </p> <p> </p> <p> The dressing trailers where the actors go in between takes spread as a caravan along the main street of the Kazan Kremlin. Haystacks and Red Army officer are in the courtyard. It seems that the actors of extras try to stay in the characters even during the break. </p> <p> </p> <p> In between takes, Sergey Makovetsky (as Professor Leibe) said that he is working with the film director Egor Anashkin for the first time and it is very comfortable. “The relationship between the actor and the director is very serious when the director trusts the performer, and the performer trusts the person who looks at him fr om the side, accepts his proposals, and offers something of his own. There is always some kind of common option”. </p> <p> </p> <p> Speaking about his character Professor Leibe, Sergey Makovetsky noted that he was curious to try to play a person who is in a very different world. “He communicates perfectly, he can make a diagnosis in a jiff, because he is an outstanding doctor. But he does not notice Stolypin cars and death around him. Not because he does not want to, but because his soul does not see it. This is a military hospital for him, and the commandant is the head doctor”, the actor told about his character. “It was interesting to try to understand how this can be put on the screen. The author wrote that he was in some kind of shell. It is easy to write on paper, but you need to understand what it is like to be a person in the shell”, said Sergey Makovetsky. “I became interested in and learned that there is such a concept in psychiatry – derealization, a person perceives what is happening right now in a different way. Gradually, the director and I found adequate ways for the movie to show this. It seems that it turned out to be somewhat similar”. </p> <p> </p> <p> A short break and everyone gets back to work. This time they shot an episode with poisonous sugar that the main character took with her from a ruined hut. The book describes this moment as follows: “Zuleikha brings sugar to her face. Should she bite just a little or try to dissolve the whole piece at once? Does the poison act instantly or it takes some time? Will it hurt? Well, it doesn’t really matter”. Professor Leibe saves her... “Sugar? Mein Gott, how?” Professor's joyfully surprised eyes are very close. He woke up and looks at Zuleikha, raising himself on his elbows. In the moonlight, his curls seem silver. Zuleikha does not respond. She squeezed the sugar in her fist feeling the hard, sharp edges stick into the skin”. </p> <p> </p> <p> Unfortunately, the shooting process is coming to an end for Sergey Makovetsky. “It is always very sad, because it was the wonderful months of life in Perm, here in Kazan, wh ere I gladly came”, shared Sergey Makovetsky. “I will remember it by the atmosphere, comfortable relations between people, there was nothing annoying. Thanks to the Kazan City Hall, which helps us to shoot in the territory of the Kremlin”. </p> <p> </p> <p> The shooting of the film aroused interest not only among journalists, but also among residents and guests of the city. Someone specially came to the Kremlin to take a peek at the mystery of film making, someone was looking for their favorite actors. And someone became a random witness of the whole process and was interested: “What is the name of the movie? When will they show it?” </p> <p> </p> <p> After lunch, they were shooting scenes with the participation of actor Alexander Bashirov (as Gorelov, a criminal). By the way, Alexander Bashirov again got the role of a baddy. But the actor believes – everything is not so simple, because you can find positive traits in every baddy, and vice versa. “The common thinking of our creative leaders was shaped in such a way that they decided to give the most delicious, spectacular part of creative acts to the talented and witty me, and I have to bear this cross through life”, Alexander Bashirov noted in his usual, humorous way. “And for some reason, the people love them the most. Someone has to bring joy, even as a baddy. The biggest problem is to find out what is good and what is bad. I am pleased with what is happening, on the one hand. On the other hand, I dream of the roles of heroes-lovers, and rarely do I get the roles of kings or the leaders of various countries”. </p> <p> </p> <p> The preparations for the shooting in the city center began on February 14. During a day, thousands of tons of snow were brought there, flags and posters of the Soviet era, temporary decorations and wooden structures were installed. According to the scenario, fair trade took place there. Tomorrow the shooting will continue. In the coming days, they will also be held in the Laishevsky district. The scenes that will be filmed on Kremlevskaya Street on Monday will be the most mass in the movie. More than 150 people will take part in them, 30 horse carts will be involved. The shooting in Kazan will end on February 18. </p>

2019-02-16T22:19:20+0300