"At Random". Part 1.

Nika Strizhak: Today we continue our conversation with Oleg Menshikov. You know, the other day I re-read Regis Wargnier's book. I think, you know it, the diaries…
Oleg Menshikov: Yes, I know, yes.


NS: Well, to present a master with a book at last! He says many good words about you in it. Maybe he thought, you'd read it? It's worth reading, I guess. But I was amazed to read that several times he pointed out… I mean, different days… Now I am talking about the pages dedicated to you, which I read more carefully. And after your and… Oh my God, what?..
OM: Sandrine Bonnaire.

NS: Yes… The whole team applauded you. So, was it hard to win the team's applause?
OM: I don't know why he pointed these particular things out. First, they…

NS: What do you feel, when the take is been shot and the team is applauding?
OM: No, well, first, applause is always applause, and it's the same here. I don't know… Well, I guess, they were so happy that I finally said everything correctly in French, and not just did I said that but also played something maybe. No, I have to say that they treated me very gently, with much care. I must give them their due. It was hard, it was really hard to act speaking a foreign language.

NS: Why did you agree then?
OM: It was interesting.

NS: Some sort of inner masochism: "Let me try!"
OM: Why, of course! They deprive you of a very important component of your work - your language.

NS: Yeah.
OM: So try to act without it. Like, you are a cook, and they cut your arm off. Try to cook something with just one arm.

NS: Let us not consider such sad examples.
OM: Well, that's just an example… So it was really interesting for me. Look, besides no one declines offers like that. Neither did I. After all, Catherine Deneuve, Sandrine Bonnaire, Regis Wargnier, they are serious people. It can turn out to be not exactly what they wanted. As the film is about us, we can say, "Oh, this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong". But the film was made with much respect towards our country. And then, of course… We don't have… Well, I mean, it was shot abroad. The French shot a film about us.

***

The episode "'Did you know she was going to do it?' - 'No, I didn't'" from the film "East-West"

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NS: You know, I think, one can mark out a good play, although it may not always be obvious how to stage it. I happened to read several film scripts, and sometimes I was surprised for I was reading a script and couldn't understand if the film was good or bad. What kind of skill is that - to be able to appreciate the future work reading a script? How hard is it?
OM: So you can't do that, can you?

NS: Maybe I can't concentrate because of all the lines. Something strange happens, I guess.
OM: I don't know. Maybe it depends on the script? I don't know. Because if there is a story in a script… I can't imagine how they read Fellini's scripts. It's impossible to understand a thing in them.

NS: When it's just a paragraph of the text, and that's it.
OM: I don't know, I can understand… Well, of course, if I… If there's something interesting in a script you'll understand it anyway. Yes, it may be 50 pages of text and you won't understand anything about the story, you won't memorize any character. But you know, when some sort of someone's breathing stays afterwards, you realize: there's something in it, you have to meet something, you need someone to tell you more about it. It's just that you missed something. You need to meet a director. But to tell the truth, sometimes after such meetings you still feel you missed something, even after the explanation. But sometimes you understand things at once. Take for instance, Balayan's scripts. There's no sense to read them, because the film will be different, it'll be his film. He doesn't like to give scripts.

NS: What?.. How is that?! He doesn't like to give scripts? Maybe he likes to narrate? You have to make up your mind, and your decision should be based on something.
OM: He, no… What worries him is… Why does he always invite the same actors? Because he doesn't want to waste time on making new friends and converting them to his views, so to speak. And he already knows…

NS: To accustom them to his way of work.
OM: Oleg Yankovsky, then, Sasha Abdulov, then me, someone else… He knows us and… And so what? No, he doesn't like to narrate. Moreover, he doesn't tell anything. He just pushes you before the take and says: "Now you'll do this and now you'll do that".

NS: Well, you have to trust a director to accept his offer then. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense.
OM: Yes, of course.

***

The episode "The romance 'I Love You' sung by the young officer [Oleg Menshikov]" from the film "The Kiss"

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NS: I can't believe that many years ago you were tested for a role in Bykov's film "Attention, tortoise!"
OM: Yes, there was something like that.

NS: That's my favourite film, the film of our childhood! I don't know! All those miniskirts, white tights, the magazine with records! Do you remember it at all? Do you remember Bykov?
OM: Yes, I remember, but it's one of few things I remember from my childhood, but I don't remember the test itself. Sometimes I also have to look through actors' photos. But there were 200 people standing in a line, I was among them. And then Bykov walked by, looked at each of us, and that was it. We all went home.

NS: They say, he told you one thing.
OM: Who says that?

NS: I don't know, sources! They say, he said: "You are too cheerful, that's why you will never become an actor". Do they lie?
OM: Well, frankly speaking, I don't remember it.

NS: So, who brought you there, your mum?
OM: Mum, of course.

NS: Mum felt it was necessary to bring the kid there!
OM: I don't know. Everyone brought kids to filmstudios then. But I don't remember that phrase. You know, those made up fine words! "He would never become an actor - but he did".

NS: Bykov regretted saying that all his life, and you don't remember it! Is it true that you graduated from the Institute as a comedy actor?
OM: Yes, I still consider myself one.

NS: Don't you regret that, so to speak…
OM: I do.

NS: That's a revelation for the audience, I must admit!
OM: Yes, that's a pity. I regret it very much. I still hope to play in high comedy. With good actors, with a good script, with a good director.

NS: But you can choose a play yourself!
OM: Well, I keep looking for it. But I haven't found anything yet.

NS: Why is it a problem? You mean, there is little choice of plays, don't you?
OM: No, not little, but it can't be… There are lots of funny plays. But it should strike, you know? It should strike me, for we're talking about me, it should strike people, who are near. So that we all realized that this person could play this character and that person could play that. There should be many points. I guess, there are many funny plays…

***

The episode "You need some creative unrest!" from the film "The Pokrovskie Gate"

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OM: You know, there are plays we make funny, and then they become skit-performances. Actually, I don't like it much.

NS: Since when?
OM: No, I like skits. But when it's like this: we performed and then made a skit. That's what I love. And everyone had a great time… But I don't like it when I see a skit onstage. That's it. That's why I said "a comedy", but high comedy! There are must be something in it, something… I don't know how to put it. I saw a performance in the National Theatre in England. Unfortunately, I don't remember the title, I saw many performances. It was some famous English play, which didn't get to Russia. They were walking, as English can do it, they were simply walking and weren't doing anything outstanding, nothing. But the audience was dying, dying from laughter. A woman even fell off her chair. Because, I don't know, it was… But I don't want such a thing.

NS: You want to move!
OM: Well, yes, yes, yes. Shirvindt and Derzhavin's humour [two Russian comedians], with all my respect. There is something, really. So I really have been considering such possibilities for quite a long time now. Actually, I am not alone. You know, when I start talking about it with other people, everyone thinks - there are loads of comedies. And when you start looking for them, thinking about them - you realize that in fact, there are not so many of them at all.

NS: He was looking for the right play for a long time. And he grew so old…
OM: "I found it! But too late!"

NS: And what is the Laurence Olivier Prize like? What is it - a medal, a statuette, huh?
OM: Well, it's kind of… It's a bust, his face, he's wearing a suit. He was playing Henry - I don't remember which. It's just a statuette, that's about it.

NS: A tactless question - don't answer if you don't want to. But I think the whole situation about them giving you the rank of the national artist of the Russian Federation as if they realized they'd forgotten something, it's kinda awkward… What do you think about it?
OM: You know, I don't know what to think because although I was told about it, I haven't seen it myself yet.

NS: They didn't give you anything?
OM: No official confirmation, I mean it all went somewhere like… But I could have name myself that two years ago! No, I know, it all went somewhere, but no one has told me anything yet.

NS: People, please, find the proof! What kind of idle talk is that? No one should treat a master like that.

***

The episode "Ranks are given by people, and people can make mistakes" from the performance "Woe From Wit"

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NS: At the entrance to Plato's school there was a note reading "Entrance is prohibited to those who don't know geometry". And without knowledge of what can't people get your profession?
OM: Mmmm… That's serious. I'm afraid I won't be able to name just one thing. But I'll tell you this: a person can learn geometry.

NS: Well, study it.
OM: Right. And then - you are welcome. I think that… Well everyone thinks: Nikita Sergeevich [Mikhalkov] said, that the most important thing God could give an actor was the scenic charm. So if you don't have charm, don't enter. But no one will ever say about himself that he's not charming! Everyone thinks that… So, I guess, this scenic charm, then, you know… Again, Mikhail Chekhov; let the great speak, and we…

NS: … repeating after the great…
OM: Nevertheless, he said that an actor's scenic charm depended on the way he lived. Not onstage, but how he led his life.

NS: Do you agree with that?
OM: Yes, I do.

NS: And still, I think, there should be natural charm as well.
OM: Yes, of course, but the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. If you lead a proper life - the way you think it's proper - don't lie to yourself or others, don't do things you have no right to do, don't do things you can live without and so on and so forth. It's not something extraordinary, it's common. But as soon as you make a step and think: "I'll do it, it'll be all right!" It will be all right for a while, but then it'll return to you anyway!

***

The episode "Earl fell for my fiance" from the film "The Barber Of Siberia"

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NS: Do you really think there were no brilliant actors among, let's say, not very good people?
OM: I really doubt it, I doubt it. But you know, they say, Oleg Ivanovich Borisov, may he rest in peace, was a complicated person.

NS: Yes, he was.
OM: But I think he was a great person. Well, I guess, they said a lot of things about him, that he was this and he was that. But he was a good man. So…

NS: He is like you, he was a typical Scorpio.
OM: Yes, yes, yes. Well, that was an example. So I think that if someone says that someone else is evil, it doesn't mean anything. First, we don't know each other, of course. How can we? This man is like this, the other man is like that… How long should you spend with a person to get to know what he is and who he is?

NS: Why should one report about what kind of person he is anyway? That's nonsense!
OM: Yes, it's true as well. But I believe, a great artist can't be a bad person. He just can't. Then, the artist is not that great.

NS: That's a nice category: a mean person - not much of an actor.
OM: No…

NS: I'm just joking, I'm joking! Once you said you were sorry because you and your mates from the Institute didn't go to Ranevskaya [a legendary Russian actress], or didn't talk to Oleg Ivanovich Borisov. Do you assume that there are young actors who want to come and talk to you? What would you do?
OM: I don't know, I associate with people. After all, many young actors play in our performance… I think I understand them and their thoughts, and their interests, which, of course, differ from the interests and, life-style in general, of my generation. But it seems to me, there's lack of many things in their life.

NS: Things which are necessary for the profession? Or just lack, in general?
OM: No, not just profession, but life in general. I think, do they want to meet, let's say, me at all? I don't know, it's just… Well, if they do, that's OK, no problem… "He said that and disappeared"

NS: And he ran! So that no one could catch up with him!

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The episode "Oleg Menshikov's character runs along the street" from the film "Stripe Of Obstacles"

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OM: No, you know. Why, no, we have no right… We should open the door, if they knock. They should find the door, but if they knock, I'll open. It's not the point. I am ready to help, and…

NS: No, don't get scared! I am not saying, we'll bring someone. I just think that there may be people out there who need this, professionally.
OM: Yes.

NS: By the way, should a professional meet other people?
OM: By all means.

NS: Are there people you'd like to talk to? Not to chat with, but to discuss something concerning your profession?
OM: It'll always be a conversation related to my work. It doesn't mean that we'll discuss characters and roles. But we'll still talk about it willy-nilly. We won't necessarily use special terms, or discuss some…

NS: … mise en scene.
OM: Yes, yes, yes. Then, it'll be a different kind of conversation, absolutely different… One should socialize with people, socialize with those who are better than you. Only then you grow can . If someone did that for us when we were young… I know that I should do many things for young actors, because when I was young, Kozakov, Mikhalkov, Balayan did the same for me. No one knows what would have happen unless I had met the three of them - almost at the same time - when I was 19. So… The first books… Not the first books, but the first forbidden books, Akhmatova, "Requiem", poems by Brodsky and so on. Mikhail Mikhailovich recited all that at home and I was listening to it for the very first time. How can I forget it? I'll always remember.

NS: To discover Brodsky when he was recited by Mikhail Mikhailovich - that's outstanding!
OM: Yes.

NS: Are you happy?
OM: Well, kinda, yes.

***

The episode "Korolkov V. S. 1st year. A future engineer." from the film "With The Orchestra Along The Main Street"

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NS: What are your plans for the future? Tell us, we'll be waiting.
OM: Well, I don't know. If there are no secrets now… There are a couple of films I don't want to talk about, because first, they'll be shot and then, they won't… And now we negotiate about Akunin, about Fandorin. If it's… Haven't you heard?

NS: No. It's very interesting. Do you think it'll fit you?
OM: Yeah. I've always wanted to play in a whodunit film. Always. It was my secret wish.

NS: To play who?
OM: Somebody. In a whodunit. And this story is good. Sasha Adabashjyan is going to shoot TV series based on Akunin's novel "Azazel", but Fandorin is 20 years old in it, so there will be an actor, they want to find someone a bit like me. And the film, not the series, with a big budget, the way it should be. It seems that I'll be in it.

NS: So now waiting for a comedy we'll play PI's or very sly criminals, right?
OM: Right. There are also some theatre plans, but they are just plans so far, so it's senseless to talk about it.

NS: One more thing, I've been looking… During our conversation… Your brown eyes… My eyes are also brown, but they are not so dark… What do they say about our brown eyes? They say his eyes are mysterious and sly and something else… Let's say something to protect our brown eyes at the end.
OM: No, I won't say anything. Let them say, if they want to. May the Lord help them. I don't know what to protect. From who? I really don't know.

NS: They say it's from Gipsy. Do you have something from Gipsy?
OM: No.

***

The episode "Mitya looks at Stalin's portrait" from the film "Burnt By The Sun"

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NS: Well, what can I say? I want to wish myself and you, dear friends, that we'll have another chance to talk when the plans are realized.
OM: By all means.

NS: Thank you very much, it was a great pleasure for me.
OM: Thank you.