On this day, the legendary man, the “Balkan Fellini”, so beloved in Russia, flew to Khanty-Mansiysk for the international festival of cinematographic debuts “Spirit of Fire”, where he was chosen as an honored guest. And he told Rossiyskaya Gazeta how he reacted to the unexpected appointment and what would happen to his orchestra. An interpreter was not required – the maestro speaks Russian.
Have you staged plays before?
Emir Kusturica: In 2007 – the performance of “Time of the Gypsies” at the Paris Opera House “Bastille”, it was a punk opera, a transcription of my film.
I want to release three performances at the Army Theater, first – “The Time of the Gypsies”, then – “Life is like a miracle” (this is based on my films) and “The Cranes Are Flying” based on the film by Mikhail Kalatozov. There was drama in the film – there will be in the theater, on one of the largest stages in Europe.
So?
Emir Kusturica: Next – let’s see.
You said: “This offer is a great honor for me.” And what feelings did you experience at the same time?
Emir Kusturica: Surprise, shock. I could not believe such an offer. When Sergei Shoigu said that the theater should be raised, I agreed to try to help so that the old glory would return to this theater, to increase it. I have never done anything in Russia, so I want to express my feelings for your country.
How did the musicians of your band react to this news? You will live more in Moscow, tours with the group will probably become infrequent?
Emir Kusturica: This news was received with great joy. Some musicians will participate in my performances. Our tour, which we are doing now, will last until the end of the year, and I will start working on productions in the theater and on my shoots.
You are very loved in Russia. I see the reaction of the public at concerts in different cities. They invite as a guest of honor to festivals – cinema and theater, arrange tours. How to explain such love, do you think?
Emir Kusturica: Do not know. Maybe because of the movie “Black Cat, White Cat”? My films are “guilty”. I am glad that it happened, that they love me in Russia. For me, Russian culture has always been the most important in the world. Your literature, music, great writers, composers are the best. Even in my youth, I studied life from the books of Dostoevsky, Gogol, Pushkin.
And to stage, for example, Dostoevsky – will you take it?
Emir Kusturica: Why not? We’ll see.
Meanwhile
At the opening ceremony of the festival, Emir Kusturica was awarded the prize “For Contribution to World Cinema”. The vice-president of the forum, Maria Zvereva, said that Sergey Solovyov, the founder, permanent president, and the main inspirer of the “Spirit of Fire”, wanted to do this. By the way, Kusturica received his first film award in 1981 from the hands of Sergei Solovyov – at the Venice Film Festival, where the Russian director was a member of the jury. And after the end of the solemn ceremony, instead of the opening film, there was a concert of the favorite of the Russians and his famous The No Smoking Orchestra.