In 2018, they promise to release at least four new films with the outstanding Ukrainian actor Alexei Gorbunov. The largest of them will be “Wild Field” by Yaroslav Lodygin, based on the famous novel “Voroshilovgrad” by Sergei Zhadan.
In addition, work is being completed on the film about aviators “Sky” by Alexey Panteleev and the short film “May” by Viktor Priduvalov, in which there will be “a lot of romance and Kyiv,” as the creators note. In the latter, Gorbunov not only plays one of the main roles, but also acts as one of the producers and co-author of the script. The actor also played Alexander Shapiro in the new work.
In Ukrainian films of recent years, Gorbunov looks like a collector’s mustang in a garden rally of Cossacks and Muscovites. He drives around our quiet province, looking for an opportunity to accelerate to full speed – to the full scale of his powerful potential. But none of our art highways allows us to gain high speed, since it diverges into many crafty bends of circumstances. In a word, instead of gaining height and speed, you have to wobble.
On the set of “Voroshilovgrad”
Over the past five years, six full-length films with Gorbunov’s participation have been released: “Istalgia” (2013), “Haitarma” (2013), “Mobius” (2013), “Trumpeter” (2014), “Thinkers” (2017) and “Rule of Combat” “(2017).
“What I experienced here with cinema, I don’t even know how to broadcast…” the actor himself sharply comments on this unpleasant experience, referring to the TV series in which he has actively starred in recent years. In particular, he appeared in the serial films “Loner” and “Guard”.
The fact that such a strong actor has to play in a hack job is a universal injustice. But on the other hand, this characterizes him as a true artist who boldly takes on even hopeless film projects and plays in them with the same dedication as in the films of great masters, with whom he often starred before.
For example, the aforementioned series “Loner” looks like a banal TV movie about an honest and principled policeman. However, when Gorbunov took on the main role, the film immediately became something more. This is evidenced, in particular, by the high ratings of its broadcast on TV.
“I’m offended for the state,” the actor repeats the slogan phrase from the film with the pressure of a cannon salvo. And this is that rare case when a banal quote from a Soviet classic is heard with targeted honesty.
When we met with Alexei Gorbunov in the capital’s House of Cinema, he was simultaneously sorting out the details of his upcoming play “The Black Box”, discussing the nuances of the then-future filming of “May” and, in between smoke breaks, giving a short interview about other projects, often breaking into a hysterical tone .
Being an artist in Ukraine means you don’t just have to play all the instruments in an orchestra. You also need to be able to sell tickets for your performances. The old joke that “painting a picture is a craft, but selling it is a real art”, alas, remains relevant.
So when optimistic news comes from all sides about another record in Ukrainian cinema, about increased state funding for film production and that very soon “we will catch up and surpass” other countries in the number of domestic films – I don’t read this news into account, but I look at where Alexey Gorbunov and high-class masters like him are now. After all, only if films begin to appear that fully reveal the potential of such actors will we be able to say that we have produced a truly high-level film.
“In 2014, “The Tribe” by Slaboshpitsky and “The Guide” by Sanin appeared, and after that at least one strong film was released? Has there been a movie since then that would clearly tell about our people? A film that would not be embarrassing, and which could represent Ukraine at prestigious film festivals? Look how many shameful films they made here instead!” – Gorbunov was indignant last spring, rolling up his sleeves to work on his short film “May”.
Money for this film was raised in an unusual way. Having started a cry among friends and acquaintances, as well as on social networks, a little amount accumulated, which was barely enough to create a tape.
“Everyone is now looking for budgets for their films, but in fact the main problem is not money. You can find a huge budget, but still make a terrible film. It is much more important to find a high-quality producer and screenwriter. These are the two main “Achilles heels” of Ukrainian cinema. We have everything else: actors, cameramen, artists…” explains the artist, and each of his phrases sounds like a shot of lava from an awakening volcano.
Gorbunov’s filmography includes several dozen Russian films. He starred in festival and box office hits by Nikita Mikhalkov, Valery Todorovsky, Alexei Uchitel and Alexander Veledinsky. He still receives offers to star in new Russian films. “But I’m not filming. There is a war going on. What the f*ck is Russia!?” – the actor chops.
The position of this artist looks paradoxical in many ways. He has great difficulty seeking film funding from private investors. But at the same time
om refuses to participate in Goskino pitchings, where it is easier to get financial support. He harshly criticizes the series in which he stars, but at the same time continues to agree to participate in such projects. He smashes modern Ukrainian cinema to smithereens, but at the same time he gives up his bones to make a domestic film. He categorically refuses to act in Russian films, but at the same time defends Ukrainian artists who have been performing in Russia in recent years.
These contradictions are further confirmation of Alexei Gorbunov’s public honesty. He does not polish his public image, dusting all the cracks of his self-portrait with a thick layer of beautiful fairy tales. He presents himself in public space naturally, without embellishment and without fear of seeming complex, harsh and ambiguous.
On the set of “Voroshilovgrad”
Ukrainian cinema in recent years has begun to actively create a modern mythology of our country. With each new film, the question becomes more and more clear: “What is he like – a modern Ukrainian hero?” When answering this question, they often remember the films “Cyborgs” by Seitablayev, “Chervony” by Buadze, “DZIDZIO “Double Bass” by Borshchevsky, “The One Who Walked Through the Fire” by Ilyenko…
However, with his roles, Gorbunov convinces that an equally clear answer to this question can be found in an ordinary series – “Loner”. And the point is not that this particular serial film is particularly good in any way (in fact, in some of its fragments the hack work is just off the charts). And the fact is that when working even with such mediocre material, you can not lose face and demonstrate high skill.
So when it comes to what he is like – a modern Ukrainian hero, then you should just include the latest films with Gorbunov. An actor who doesn’t just masterfully show it on screen. But he also demonstrates this perfectly in life. Remaining a great master in the kingdom of hackwork.