The young heroine, who has been silent throughout the film, quietly says: “We have something to say. But you must hear us.” Why did you decide to give the right to speak to a new generation?
Vladimir Alenikov: When you live long in this world, at some point you understand that you shouldn’t do anything trivial. It’s worth spending your energy and time only on what’s important. That’s how I try to live and work. My previous work, “Heavenly Team,” seems very important to me. It’s a memory of the tragically lost Yaroslavl “Lokomotiv.” Now here’s “Rebels.” I’ve made all sorts of things: children’s films, comedies, thrillers. But I’ve never made anything more important than this film.
A few years ago, a friend of mine told me a story that struck me about how selfish people were going to demolish a boarding school where disabled children and kids from disadvantaged families lived in order to build a shopping mall. And the kids defended it. I didn’t believe it, but my friend insisted that it was true. I started calling all the boarding schools in the country, talking to directors and teachers. “Did this happen to you?” “No. No. No.” Nobody knew anything. Apparently, this is some kind of myth. But I was already wound up. I started going to boarding schools, talking to children, and I realized that this layer of life had passed me by and a huge number of people by. They don’t even turn their heads in this direction. And this is a whole world. The children who end up there are thrown out of life. Mostly, their parents have abandoned them. They are usually very sick. And no one really cares about them. But they are children, they are still wonderful, they dream, they strive for something. The most amazing thing is that sometimes they succeed. I fell in love with these children and some of the teachers – you don’t find them everywhere.
The importance of this theme is also indicated by the fact that the film was preceded by a novel.
Vladimir Alenikov: Last year, a book with the same title, “The Rebels,” was published. For several years, we sought support from the Ministry of Culture. Finally, we received it to make the film. I hope to turn our society toward these children. Because they need help, love, and compassion. These are the main human emotions. All my books, plays, and films are always unusual love stories. That’s how this film came about, everything in it is true. I wrote down all the stories for the children, who told them in simple words. With the exception of the main character’s storyline – it was invented to unite everything. But something similar certainly happened.
I am friends with many actors. I have wonderful actors filming. But here I refused famous faces, so that there would be a sense of documentary. There is one exception – Olga Volkova, who plays the headmistress of the boarding school. I introduced her to the prototype. And five minutes later they were talking like sisters. And I also filmed real pupils of the boarding school, for them this was the main event in their lives. In creating the image of the boarding school, we started from one of the few successful real institutions.
Vladimir Alenikov: I made a myth-film. But I really want everything in life to end as well as in it… Photo: RIA Novosti
The film received a special prize at the Volgograd Torch festival. Will a wider audience be able to see it?
Vladimir Alenikov: It will be released on November 14.
The resolution of the conflict is a bit of a fairy tale. Journalists came and reported the truth.
Vladimir Alenikov: Well, I told you it’s a myth. But I want it to be so!
“Petrov and Vasechkin” is 40 years old this year. Are the Soviet schoolchildren who played in your film different from modern children?
Vladimir Alenikov: Nowadays people don’t read at all.
This is probably more of a question for parents.
Vladimir Alenikov: Yes, but unfortunately, books are leaving their lives. They won’t even understand what Ilf and Petrov are talking about. My heroine sings a song by Yanka Dyagileva. Her work will be close to teenagers for some time. But not for long.
You have worked a lot not only with us, but also in Hollywood. What is the difference?
Vladimir Alenikov: When I worked there, I didn’t have to check if I gave someone a task. Everything would be done perfectly. But here, if you don’t check, you never know what you’ll get. That’s why I keep track of everything myself.
Oh, that’s not the answer I was hoping for. Do we have anything good that they don’t?
Vladimir Alenikov: There is good everywhere. People who work in cinema are demanding of themselves. My group is always like a family.
Source: rg.ru
