Alexander Abdulov, “The Wizards”
In the late 1960s, the Strugatsky brothers wrote a screenplay titled “The Wizards” based on their own story “Monday Begins on Saturday” and its sequel, “The Tale of the Troika.” However, Konstantin Bromberg’s film based on this script turned out to be far from the original: the Strugatsky brothers’ satirical and philosophical fantasy turned into a light New Year’s musical, devoid of harsh irony and scientific foundation, which is why the writers themselves disowned the film. The film’s protagonist is Ivan Pukhov, played by Alexander Abdulov—a musician and piano tuner who falls in love with the head of the laboratory at the NUINU Institute of Magic. The 30-year-old actor became a romantic ideal of the Soviet screen of the 1980s, turning a fantasy story into a fairy tale of loyalty and faith in miracles.
Yuri Kolokolnikov, “Noon”
The new series “Noon” turns to one of the key worlds of the science fiction brothers – the cycle “The World of Noon”. This is the first multi-part project based on the Strugatsky brothers and the first screen adaptation of the story “The Beetle in the Anthill”, continuing the adventures of Maxim Kammerer – now performed by Yuri Kolokolnikov. Having become an employee of the Commission for Contacts with Extraterrestrial Civilizations, his character embarks on a special mission: to find the progressor Lev Abalkin (Maksim Matveyev), who secretly abandoned the mission on the planet Nadezhda and poses a threat to Earth. In addition to Kolokolnikov and Matveyev, the series also stars Leonid Yarmolnik and Yulia Snigir. The series will be released on KION this year.
Evgeny Tsyganov, “Hotel at the Dead Climber”
A full-length film adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers’ story “Hotel at the Dead Climber” is currently in production. It is a science fiction detective story starring Evgeny Tsyganov and Svetlana Khodchenkova. Tsyganov will appear as police inspector Peter Glebsky, who arrives at a call at a small mountain hotel called “At the Dead Climber”. Someone sent the inspector an anonymous letter informing him of a murder at the hotel. Glebsky finds no foul play, but an avalanche blocks the exit from the city, and the body of one of the guests is discovered that night. The film will be released in 2027.
Leonid Yarmolnik, “Hard to Be a God”
Leonid Yarmolnik’s role in Alexei German Sr.’s film “Hard to Be a God” is not only the longest in his career, but also one of the most dramatically intense. The film itself, begun in the late 1990s and completed by the director’s son in 2013, became one of the most important adaptations of the Strugatsky brothers: the action takes place on the distant planet Arkanar, where civilization is stuck at a medieval level, and a group of earthling observers must monitor its development without interfering with the course of history. Many actors auditioned for the role of the progressive observer Don Rumata, including Konstantin Khabensky, but Herman was struck by the performance of Yarmolnik, who, according to the actor himself, got to the audition by accident.
Sergey Bezrukov, “It’s Hard to Be a God” (TV series)
This year we can expect another large-scale film adaptation of “It’s Hard to Be a God”, which will be released in the fall. This time, the role of Anton, the human historian working on the planet Arkanar under the guise of Don Rumata Estorsky, will be played by Serbian actor Aleksandar Radoichic, while other key characters will be played by Russian film stars. Sergei Bezrukov will appear as Don Condor, a seasoned veteran intelligence officer, and Nikita Kologrivy will play Rumata’s friend, Don Pampa. The series will also feature new characters, such as a certain Don Cuba, played by Fyodor Bondarchuk, who served as the project’s producer. Bondarchuk’s presence is especially symbolic: in the 2000s, he worked with the Strugatsky brothers’ prose, filming the saga “Inhabited Island” and playing one of the leading roles in it.
Yulia Snigir, “Inhabited Island”
The future star of “The Master and Margarita” played the leading female role of Rada Gaal, the protagonist’s lover, in Bondarchuk’s ambitious blockbuster based on the Strugatsky brothers’ novel of the same name. Critics and audiences alike reacted to this expensive, complex film, executed on a Hollywood scale. Some questioned the main character, others the director’s tone, but everyone was unanimous in their appreciation of Snigir’s performance. Even the most ardent detractors acknowledged that the recent Shchukin Academy graduate, who had starred in a couple of films and the music video for “Do Skoroy Vstrechi” (See You Soon) by the band Zveri, had a bright future ahead of her. You were right.
Alisa Freundlich, “Stalker”
One day Andrei Tarkovsky came to the Lensovet Theatre and through Anatoly Solonitsyn passed on a note beginning with the words “Mrs. Freundlich!..” It was an offer for Alisa Freundlich to play a small role in “Mirror”, which was eventually played by Alla Demidova. But Andrei Arsenyevich and Alisa Brunovna worked together again, on “Stalker”, a loose adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers’ story “Roadside Picnic”. The monologue of Stalker’s wife about life with a man who believes in higher powers and values, but has forgotten about his family and friends, is the emotional and spiritual climax of the film. Moreover, it was also one of the most difficult episodes – so much so that, seeing the actress exhausted from numerous takes, Tarkovsky’s wife demanded that filming be stopped.
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