A tank could not stop Rostotsky

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 6

A tank could not stop Rostotsky

Lie Russian film director, Stanislav Rostotsky. who armed in Christchurch yesterday with his actress wife, Nina Menshikova, to attend rhe opeing of the Russian F: m Festival believes that f nly a person who has lived lite to the full has the right to direct others in a film. He has directed nine films — "not so mans, but all good” — and ha- lived "a very interesting life; the fruition of my wildest dreams.’* Even his life in the thriving Russian film industry began like a “miracle.'’ At the age of 14 he was sought for a part in a film after his photograph as a Young Pioneer appeared in the newspapers. His association with Russian films has lasted ever since, and now, at 55. he acknowledges he has never lost his awe of being a director. His awe and belief in miracles hate lasted even after the overwhelming success in 1973, of "At Dawn, It’s Quiet Here.” The film was seen by 135 million people in one year, was nominated tor a Hollywood Oscar for the best foreign film, — and was praised by Brezhnev as “a very good’’ movie. “It was sold to more than 80 countries.’ Mr Rostotsky finished his schooling in 1940 and spent the next four years fighting in World War 11. He was almost killed fighting at the front in February, 1944. wnen a tank tan over him. breaking an arm and leg. and severely damaging a lung. "flv al! the laws of man’s, physical potential and in the. extreme circumstances in which it happened. I should hat e died." Mr Rostotsky However, he underwent, surgery tn two hospitals and came out of the experience, with an artificial leg — a disability which is not at all obvious. None of the journalists who have interviewed him on his New Zealand! tour have even guessed his left leg is artificial. Sports activities have kept I Mr Rostotsky glowing with; good health, and fit and Discharged from hospital, tn August. 1944. he was,' admitted the next month to shop at the Cinematography Institute. There he worked for seven years under one of; the greatest Soviet directors, Kozint-ev. best known ini the West for his Hamlet” and “Kina Lear.”

Since 1951, Mr Rostotsky] has worked at the Gorky! Studio, directing films that! (reflect his own deepest experiences. Two were inspired! , by his love of country; people, with whom he! spent a lot of time as a child; three by his war ex-! periences; and two were in-i spired by Lermontov’s novel,! “A Hero of Our Time.” His film, "Until Monday,”

which has been shown in New Zealand and his latest film, “White Bim with the Black Ear,” are dramas in contemporary settings. In Russia, films were very popular, competing' quite successfully against the colour television in almost every household, Mr Rostotsky said. There were about 180,000 picture theatres in the U.S.S.R. some seating as many as 4000 people. Films were screened all day long, from 9 a.m. and admission prices were very cheap. “Because our whole economy is planned, we produce a film on the basis that 90 per cent of all the seats are sold at every performance. We have to produce good pictures which the people will flock to see,” he said. ' The average film costs I about 300.000 roubles and ‘ needed an audience of about 17M before the production ; expenses were met. Profits went back to the State which financed the film in the first place, or back into the industry to pay for new films. Each year 150 feature films were produced in the U.S.S.R.