The disease did not prevent Mikhalkov from achieving the reconstruction of the Cinema House: he waited 15 years

by time news

The head of the Union of Cinematographers is ill, but manages the construction

Film director Nikita Mikhalkov was hospitalized on New Year’s holidays. On January 5, he developed a fever, shortness of breath and cough, but he still had the strength to call an ambulance on his own.

Information about the health of the 77-year-old director is contradictory. According to the latest information, Nikita Mikhalkov is in serious condition in the intensive care unit of the Moscow hospital N52, where he was transferred from the hospital N67. As always, no one gives honest comments, and this gives rise to a series of rumors. The press service of Mikhalkov claims that this is just the flu, while other sources reported suspected covid. The initial diagnosis was not confirmed, but we are talking about bilateral polysegmental pneumonia and intoxication syndrome.

Mikhalkov has always been powerful. He traveled all over the world, was actively involved in sports, including equestrianism, and constantly said that 4-5 hours were enough for him to sleep. Yes, and heredity was impressive. His father Sergei Mikhalkov lived to be 96 years old. However, in recent years, Nikita Sergeevich’s body has failed. After a fracture in the bone and surgery on the femoral joint, six more surgical interventions followed in the German clinic. Mikhalkov did not hide this, he talked about the fact that he spent a total of almost 40 hours under anesthesia. The director appeared on crutches or leaning on a stick. It was rumored that he could not be in a horizontal position, he had to sleep in some kind of vertical capsule. Mikhalkov lost a lot of weight and was afraid of covid. He gave interviews only upon presentation of a PCR test, and at the MIFF press conference with his participation, they were allowed in with certificates confirming the absence of COVID-19. And even they were canceled at the last moment without explanation, which multiplied the rumors.

At the same time, Mikhalkov continued his vigorous activity – he filmed Besogon, denounced everyone and everything, announced the establishment of the Eurasian analogue of the Oscar, asked for fabulous money for this, came up with alternative critics’ awards, as he once established the Golden Eagle as opposed to the film award ” Nika”. The fight with colleagues does not stop for a minute. Mikhalkov still leads the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation. And although it can be difficult for him to sit for several hours on the presidium, he endures this torment. For about 15 years, Mikhalkov fought to demolish the Cinema House and build a high-rise building with apartments, a hotel and cinema halls in its place, but the filmmakers who had long lost confidence in him stood as a wall. They knew that they would never see their home again. Many of them are no longer in this world. And the rest realized the futility of fighting Mikhalkov’s ambitions and simply left the game, stopped wasting their lives on confrontation. How can! Surprisingly, years later, Mikhalkov still managed to achieve his goal, although they were not allowed to demolish the monument of the cultural heritage of the Soviet era. By the beginning of summer, the directorate of the House of Cinema and the leadership of the SC will move almost into the premises that belonged to the recently ceased existence of the magazine Art of Cinema. All other employees will also have to vacate their offices for the period of construction and reconstruction.

On January 27, at Mosfilm, for the 21st time, the solemn presentation of the Golden Eagle film award will take place, the ideologist of which is Nikita Mikhalkov. A year ago, he did not attend the ceremony. None of his relatives were present, not even his wife Tatiana Mikhalkova. In past years, Mikhalkov appeared even with a broken arm, even with the last of his strength, although he had already missed the opening and closing of the Moscow International Film Festival, which he has been leading for many years. But I did not come to the Golden Eagle for the first time only a year ago. And not the fact that it will appear this time.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 28945 dated January 9, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Mikhalkov is sick and in charge

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