“There was a huge rise”: Alexander Shpagin on Chulpan Khamatova, the impact of sanctions on Russian cinema and the success of Cheburashka

Alexander Shpagin has a huge experience in cinema behind him. He not only studied the history of cinema, published in many publications and worked on television, but also starred on the screen. His track record includes work in 43 projects.

In an exclusive interview for PopCornNews, Shpagin answered questions on the minds of Russian viewers. The expert told what awaits the industry in the future, whether directors should try to repeat Cheburashka’s success, whether the film about the adventures of Uncle Fyodor in Prostokvashino, which Sarik Andreasyan is going to shoot, will “shoot”, and about many other things.

– In the first half of 2022, many film studios have stopped or suspended their activities in Russia. Among them are Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Disney, Sony and Paramount. Do you think the sanctions have affected the domestic film industry? Does the audience feel the lack of foreign cinema?

– Of course they did. Especially in the beginning. Because there was less of an American product on our channels, but then somehow they turned around and started showing it illegally, under the guise of showing shorts.

And we’ve increased both the number and quality of movies so dramatically this year that the disappearance of American cinema has become less painful than it could be.

— Was the rejection of a foreign product a stimulus for the development of Russian cinema?

– I think it’s huge. I spoke to an economist who gave me hope. Within five years we can no longer have crises at all, on the contrary, rather an upswing. Our economy was oriented towards the Western market, so we were heavily dependent on global crises. And now let’s not depend. Therefore, the production of films has become much larger.

– Do you think that the domestic product will be able to completely replace Hollywood content? Is it true that Russian cinema is experiencing a rebirth?

Yes, it is the second birth. The quality of domestic films rose sharply last year. I look at new photos and see there is a level. There has been a huge advance in commercial cinema.

– Which of the modern Russian directors would you single out or even call a genius? Whose photos are you ready to review again and again?

— Pulls. I can’t call anyone a genius except the “old people”. Those who are over 60. I consider Konstantin Lopushansky, Alexander Zeldovich, Alexander Sokurov to be great directors. Despite the fact that sometimes they can make not very successful films, these are great directors.

We have no leader who would create new meanings. Probably the first place is occupied by Anton Megerdichev, given the huge success of the film “Heart of Parma”. He takes into account all segments of the population when he takes a picture. But unfortunately he spoiled his reputation with the extremely unsuccessful picture “Former”. Let’s hope this is a special case.

I really liked the debutant Maxim Kulagin, who directed the movie “Manly”, because this is our “Funny Games-2”. Very well done, you are one hundred percent immersed in what is happening on the screen. What will come of it, no idea.

Ametkhan Magomedov, who directed the film “Dancing on the Height”, seems promising to me. This is an eccentric comedy in the “Haidai” style. The movie is very funny and smart at the same time. He (the director – ed.) has a sense of humour. This is a huge rarity.

Contributed by Alexander Shpagin

– Did you like “Cheburashka” by Dmitry Dyachenko? Is the success of this photo indicative? After all, this film became the highest-grossing film in the history of Russian distribution, earning almost six billion rubles.

– To some extent, yes, it is indicative. I liked the movie. With some reservation. The most inconclusive moment is when no one pays attention to Cheburashka, who quietly wanders around the city. I would pass out. Another extremely inconclusive moment is with the conquest of the villa.

The film is a fairytale, but appeals to the realism of what is happening on the screen. This was somewhat annoying. But it’s a great ending, well done.

I liked that Dmitry Dyachenko freed himself from seriality when directing.

The film was shot just in time. Not only does it give hope, it comforts people’s minds. Once such a “comforter” was Eldar Ryazanov. The condition of the people in the 70s and now is very similar.

The character is selected in the top ten. It recalls the pleasant myth of the lost paradise of the “Brezhnev” era. This is the key to success.

– What do you think of director Sarik Andreasyan’s idea to make a movie based on Eduard Uspensky’s book “Uncle Fyodor, the Dog and the Cat”? Will the film about Prostokvashino be able to repeat Cheburashka’s success?

– I highly doubt it. It was clear that despite watching the cartoon, it did not work (we are talking about a modern remake – ed. note). They (characters – ed.) look strange in today’s time. I have said more than once that every sentence of Uncle Fyodor, Dog and Cat somehow contains elements of “anti-Sovietism”, that is, a dispute with the existing society.

As for Andreasyan, he has grown a lot. If it’s 100 percent pure fantasy, if the characters are completely different from their former selves, then there can be some success. My answer: most likely it won’t work.

– What do you think, which characters from years gone by would you look at now? Maybe Pinocchio or Cipollino?

– Very, because they operate in capitalist reality. And of those who are in the Soviet, none except Cheburashka.

I absolutely cannot imagine Alisa Selezneva, Gena, Shapoklyak and even Carlson. And Pinocchio and Chipollino are cut off from Soviet reality.

Contributed by Alexander Shpagin

– Name the actresses who are now the most successful in Russia.

All of our actresses are great. It all started with the arrival of Amalia Mordvinova and Chulpan Khamatova in the late 90’s. In the early 2000’s there was a fantastic wave of great actresses. Unlike young actors. Everything is much worse there. Now I can only mention Pavel Priluchny for his work in the movie “Elephant”. I didn’t expect this from him.

Also, Evgeny Tkachuk is the most promising, most interesting actor who works on himself and moves away from the usual image.

The actors are all very strong. The problem is that they all look the same. As a result, they are not immediately remembered.

Oddly enough, Chulpan Khamatova keeps the palm with us. But in connection with her departure, this glory will disappear. Svetlana Khodchenkova is the first among her peers.

Valentina Mazunina is a rare case of a comedic actress. A very good supporting actress, but she also holds the center very well. With a very unique way of playing.

— Does the Ministry of Culture support domestic producers in any way? What criteria must be met to receive a subsidy from the state? Which projects are mainly financed by the Ministry of Culture?

– First of all, this is a criterion of positive.

We have very little serious cinema of social unrest, instead there is a monotonous “darkness”. She is unconvincing and easy to photograph. Today it is inorganic, because people’s life has improved a lot. This is not always bad, but it is annoying with a monotonous approach to reality.

I take my hat off to the man who created High Security Parents (director Nikita Vladimirov – ed.). This photo really surprised me. It starts as a social comedy, continues as a social grotesque, gradually turns into a tragicomedy, which organically turns into a drama and ends in a tragedy. I think the finale should not have a happy ending or an anti-happy ending, but something more complex that makes you think.

Now the genre of tragicomedy would be very appropriate, because that doesn’t exist at all.

What common mistake do you think Russian filmmakers make? What prevents the success of some films, why do they fail at the box office?

— First of all, the success of the film all over the world does not mean that this film is great.

Good question, but difficult to answer. Let’s start with “Naughty”, which became the “Matrix” of our new movie early last year. For example, when two films on a similar topic appeared in one month, “One” practically failed, and “Wild”, which is incomparably worse, scored a huge box office. It was kind of a mystery to me. On the other hand, let’s not forget what a cash register is. There were paintings that collected a large box office, but failed. For example, “Sportloto-82” by Leonid Gaidai. There was absolutely no one who would like this movie. Same with “Stalingrad” by Fyodor Bondarchuk. I didn’t see people who liked this movie. And they say they are.

For example, 80 percent of the historical paintings in the world do not yield results. Because the viewer likes “fun” first and foremost. Nevertheless, they are being filmed and will continue to be filmed in Hollywood and Europe. This is necessary for the prestige of the cinema.

If you look at what made a profit in the 2010s, basically – all kinds of shit ** (nonsense – ed. comment). We lived in a state of pure Bollywood. Money was invested in paintings not so much, they always brought a small, but profit, so that they could be baked like pancakes. But at the same time, movies caused wild hatred and irritation among the people. Then why are you going to them, I wanted to ask? Here is such a paradox. It’s simple – people go for “fun”.

And perhaps the only serious drawback of the current successful commercial tapes of the “new call” is an artificially stuck happy ending. This is an atavism of a bygone era, the era of glamour.

Contributed by Alexander Shpagin

— How do you see the Russian film industry in 5-10 years?

– If everything goes along the path of “Going up”, I see it about the same.

We took a really bad bar from 2008 and entered a disgusting era of glamour. And now we have reached the level. And in five years it will be the same. The era of “House Arrest”, “Moving Up”, “Naughty” and so on has begun. You can see normal pictures. I am very happy with what is happening.

— The Ministry of Culture allocated 10 billion rubles in 2022, supporting a total of 210 projects. In 2024, they plan to reach the financing level of 12 billion rubles. Will it help to create more good projects?

– Yeah right. There should be more good projects in the future. And the glamour, less and less. Of course, some pictures will not be successful, but there will be many bright ones. Instead of the state, I would have invested a lot of money in the cinema now, when it started to rise. So everything is well arranged.

Photo source: Courtesy of Alexander Shpagin

Author: Elizaveta Didenko