Mikhalkov’s Mikhalkov’s 1212

Nikita Mikhalkov (b.1945)Nikita Mikhalkov (b.1945)

Descendant of Russian Descendant of Russian nobility. Comes from a nobility. Comes from a family of successful family of successful writers and artists; son writers and artists; son of the of the ““twice-anthem-twice-anthem-writerwriter”” Sergei Mikhalkov. Sergei Mikhalkov.

Privileged, close to the Privileged, close to the inner circles of power.inner circles of power.

Conservative views.Conservative views.

Leader of the Union of Leader of the Union of Filmmakers.Filmmakers.

Nikita MikhalkovNikita Mikhalkov

• Started early as an actor in Started early as an actor in film film I Walk Through I Walk Through Moscow Moscow (1963).(1963).

Universally talented actor, Universally talented actor, starred in numerous films starred in numerous films of many genres, including of many genres, including comedies.comedies.

Became one of the USSR’s Became one of the USSR’s most respected most respected filmmakers. filmmakers.

Early films directed Early films directed by Nikita Mikhalkov:by Nikita Mikhalkov:

1987 1987 Dark Eyes (Oci ciornie)Dark Eyes (Oci ciornie) , starring , starring Marcelo Mastroianni (based on Marcelo Mastroianni (based on ChekhovChekhov’’s s Lady with a Lap DogLady with a Lap Dog))

1979 1979 Five EveningsFive Evenings

1979 1979 OblomovOblomov (after a classical 19th (after a classical 19th cent. novel by Ivan Goncharov)cent. novel by Ivan Goncharov)

1977 1977 An Unfinished Piece for a Player An Unfinished Piece for a Player PianoPiano (based on Chekhov) (based on Chekhov)

1976 1976 Slave of LoveSlave of Love

1974 1974 At Home Among StrangersAt Home Among Strangers

Nikita MikhalkovNikita Mikhalkov

• In the 1990s – 2000s, In the 1990s – 2000s, the dominant figure in the dominant figure in Russian filmmaking Russian filmmaking industry. Organized, in industry. Organized, in 1984, a film 1984, a film production centre production centre ““Three TsThree Ts””..

Joint productions with Joint productions with Western companies. Western companies. Aesthetics Aesthetics ““for exportfor export”” (the opposite of his (the opposite of his early films).early films).

Allegedly, was going Allegedly, was going to run for presidency to run for presidency of the country.of the country.

Post-Soviet films directed Post-Soviet films directed by Nikita Mikhalkov:by Nikita Mikhalkov:

2010 Burnt by the sun 22010 Burnt by the sun 2

2007 2007 12 12 (a remake of (a remake of Twelve Angry Men Twelve Angry Men by by Sidney LumetSidney Lumet, 1957), 1957)

1999 1999 The Barber of SiberiaThe Barber of Siberia

1994 1994 Burnt by the SunBurnt by the Sun

1993 1993 Anna: From Six Till EighteenAnna: From Six Till Eighteen

1993 1993 Remembering ChekhovRemembering Chekhov

1991 1991 Close to EdenClose to Eden

Mikhalkov and his daughter Nadya Mikhalkov and his daughter Nadya receiving an Oscar for receiving an Oscar for Burnt by the Burnt by the

Sun Sun in 1994in 1994

The Barber of SiberiaThe Barber of Siberia: the most expensive : the most expensive film project ever in Russia (40 million film project ever in Russia (40 million

dollars)dollars)

Tsar NikitaTsar Nikita

Strong supporter of Russian nationalismStrong supporter of Russian nationalism

Has campaigned for Putin.Has campaigned for Putin.

2010 Publishes manifesto: 2010 Publishes manifesto: Law and Truth. Manifesto of Enlightened Conservatism

Rejects Western models for RussiaRejects Western models for Russia

““The euphoria of liberal democracy is over! It The euphoria of liberal democracy is over! It is high time to do things!” is high time to do things!”

TwelveTwelve: the film: the film

Russian Self-Concept: the Russian Self-Concept: the SoulSoul

““Sensitivity, reverie, imagination, an inclination to tears, Sensitivity, reverie, imagination, an inclination to tears, compassion, submission mingled with stubbornness, compassion, submission mingled with stubbornness, patience that permits survival in what would seem to be patience that permits survival in what would seem to be unbearable circumstances, poetry, mysticism, fatalism, a unbearable circumstances, poetry, mysticism, fatalism, a penchant for walking the dark, humid back streets of penchant for walking the dark, humid back streets of consciousness, introspection, sudden, unmotivated cruelty, consciousness, introspection, sudden, unmotivated cruelty, mistrust of rational thought, fascination with the word […] mistrust of rational thought, fascination with the word […] all these are qualities that have frequently been attributed to all these are qualities that have frequently been attributed to the the ‘‘Slavic soulSlavic soul’’..”” (Tatyana Tolstaya, (Tatyana Tolstaya, PushkinPushkin’’s Childrens Children 6) 6)

QuestionsQuestions

What is the underlying theme of the film?What is the underlying theme of the film?

How are Russia and Russians portrayed?How are Russia and Russians portrayed?

Which scene or scenes remain in your Which scene or scenes remain in your mind, and why?mind, and why?

Which characters are depicted in a Which characters are depicted in a positive light, and which negatively?positive light, and which negatively?

How does the film end? Is the ending How does the film end? Is the ending satisfactory from your point of view?satisfactory from your point of view?