Kinfolk
"Ekran", Central Television. 1982
Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov
Screenplay by V. Merezhko
Director of photography: P. Lebeshev
Art-directors: A. Adabashiyan, A. Samulekin
Music by E. Artemiyev
Cast:
Maria Konovalova - N. Mordyukova
Nina - S. Kryuchkova
Stasik - Y. Bogatyrev
Vovchik - I. Bortnik
Kirill - O. Menshikov
Waiters - N. Mikhalkov, A. Adabashiyan
Irishka - F. Stukov
The film ironically reveals the complicated relations of people close to each other. The main character in the simplicity of her heart tries to "restore" her daughter's broken family. Well-meaning, she can't understand why her interaction causes such a great hue and cry…
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"During the film test Oleg had a wonderful partner - Nonna Mordyukova. Actually, the leading part in Vladimir
Merezhko's screenplay was meant for her. And for Menshikov much depended on how his duet with this wonderful
and unpredictable actress will go on.
"I saw at once that Oleg was a very capable young man", noticed Nonna Viktorovna when asked about their first
meeting. "He was uneasy. And how else he could feel when Mikhalkov stared at him deciding: take him or not?
Though Oleg pulled himself together quickly - he has a will. Acting with Menshikov was easy; he understands
what is expected from him. His reactions are precise. We had a rather small scene - just a few minutes. But
there's its own climax when two people realize they have common pain. Oleg found this oppressive note - in his
glance. So, people saw something serious in his character…"
In a few years Nikita Mikhalkov told in "The Art of Cinema" magazine how Menshikov fell into his sight.
"Menshikov was invited to the film test not accidentally. He was recommended by Oleg Tabakov's students during
the work on "Kinfolk". Recommended not simply as a suitable actor for a small part of Kirill, but as a talented
actor worth paying attention to. I remember being surprised at such estimation of creative abilities of a
colleague who wasn't even their schoolmate. And indeed he seemed interesting to me and I offered him to act in
our film".
"Balayan gave his permission to act in Mikhalkov's film secretly", says Menshikov. "Thus I got into "Kinfolk".
And then, by the way, I got acquainted with the genius Nonna Mordyukova. We spent a wonderful time together.
Mikhalkov locked us in the room to concentrate on the episode to be played. And we stared into the floor… We
are sitting - me, just a boy, a third-year theatre student, and Nonna Viktorovna, a block, a great actress. I
look down trying to show growing into the role, but actually shake with fear and anxiety. And suddenly I hear
some grunting. I look up and see Mordyukova hardly controlling herself. And simultaneously we burst into laughter.
And how! To tears, to hysterics, to rolling on the floor. Thus I got acquainted with Nonna Viktorovna, thus I
started to work with Nikita Sergeyevich".
…The part of Kirill is the first meeting of Menshikov and Mikhalkov, who took a notice of the beginning actor.
Another fragment of Mikhlkov's article in "The Art of Cinema" about Oleg Menshikov: "From the very beginning I
liked the easiness and lightness with which he joined the crew. This lightness originated not from self-confidence,
but from some amazing internal freedom - and it helped him to work on the role. He seemed very internally mobile
for a young artist, with good technique, very plastic, musical and with a perfect sense of humor. He fulfilled
different directive tasks making them organic for himself. Besides, Menshikov possesses another important
quality for an actor - ability to concentrate. He can concentrate so fully that a director doesn't need to
mobilize him additionally".
(from the book by Elga Lyndina "Oleg Menshikov", Moscow - Panorama, 1999)
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