— The movie “Işık”, in which you played the leading role, was recently released. The film has already received high praise from film critics. How do you think the audience will receive it?
“I hope the film will find a deep response among audiences and viewers of different ages.” I think those who are now 40 years old, who were born and spent their childhood in the last period of the Soviet Union, will look with interest at this story, which also refers to the time when their parents were young. They fell in love, broke up, became friends, were disappointed, chose their path. For parents, this is also an opportunity to look at their current situation, experience nostalgia for their youth, and reevaluate.
— How did you feel when you first read the script of “Light”? Was it easy for you to get used to the image of your heroine Tatiana?
– This is great material! Honestly, I’ve rarely gotten anything approaching drama quality lately. This is also a very personal story for the film’s writer and director, Anton Kolomeets.
I was struck by how interested such a young man was in his mother’s inner life and experiences, partly because she served as the prototype for the main character.
Therefore, work on the image took place… I cannot say that it was easy, but with serious trust in the director and interest in what result his working style would yield. We even shot a lot in Murmansk in winter, and Anton would sometimes be so sincerely upset if something did not go well for a long time that I was ready to endure even the piercing cold to help him. And the whole group worked the same way.

Elena Yakovleva in a scene from the drama “Light” directed by Anton Kolomeets
Photo courtesy of Capella Film distribution company
— In your opinion, is the story told in the movie simple or complex? So which stories in general do you think have received a greater response from Russian audiences today – simple or complex?
“Of course, it is not a simple story to analyze and think about why a person walked part of his path in a certain way, why he is like this now, why he perceives life this way and not otherwise. And it seems to me that the audience’s response comes from stories told with sincerity, talent and love for people. What matters here is not the simplicity or complexity of the material.
— Part of the movie takes place during the USSR period. Would you like to return to the big screen as an actor who started your career in those years?
— I will partially repeat, but when you choose the material, it is not the period that comes to the fore, but the hero that is proposed to be played, if there is something memorable in it, then I agree.
— Your new film raises the issue of the work of social workers. And this theme is also characterized by the title of the film. What do you think about this profession after shooting the movie? How close to reality is everything shown?
— The director’s mother is a social worker, so everything shown is as close to reality as possible. There is probably another approach to this; Here, as always, everything depends on each individual. However, it was important for Anton to show that there are people in this profession who dedicate themselves to this job, who manage to bond with their wards even in a very short time, and who have difficulty experiencing their illnesses and deaths. After all, light is something that exists within humans; It may be bright or it may be dim.

Elena Yakovleva in a scene from the drama “Light” directed by Anton Kolomeets
Photo courtesy of Capella Film distribution company
— You act in films of different genres: detective stories, dramas, even fantasy. Which roles were particularly interesting to you?
— You accept a role if it is fundamentally interesting to you, if something is missing in you and it is difficult to choose some of them separately. Shooting is an unpredictable process. As a result, working on a role can be remembered not because you researched the material, looked for something, found something, but because of the atmosphere on the set, communication with partners in breaks between scenes, some jokes. , the locations where the shooting took place, and even the way you go to festivals with the film and present it to the audience. Of course, shooting at a certain point in fantasy – or, in other words, modern fairy tales – gave a completely new experience: all these color keys, sensor clothes and other “tricks”. But after going through a few such tables, you feel freer in this regard.
— In one of your interviews after the release of “Cheburashka” you said that the dream of playing the villain remained a dream, because Rimma (the prototype of the Old Woman Shapoklyak) was not evil enough. Which famous book or movie villain would you like to play?
– You know, there is a sign – not to say who you want to play… Maybe this is my personal sign that you need to dream quietly. In my case, it works 100%, it is the same as the fact that I played Pyotr Efimovich Todorovsky, and in Sovremennik the roles of Eliza Doolittle and Mary Stuart, so now I will not voice anything. But although I am absolutely open to creative experiments, I realize that for objective reasons the choice of roles has narrowed.
— Do you follow cinema news? Which movies and TV series impressed you the most last year?
— Because of my busy schedule and the period from spring to the end of the year in 2023, I cannot keep up with new products. I heard them talking about a project that just came out but I can’t physically watch it right now so I’m holding off until I take a break or I can watch it on the road. True, there is a catastrophic lack of time for what is called “for yourself”, but in addition to the cinema, you also want to spend time with your family, read books, go to the theater. So I can’t discuss any relevant movies or TV shows right now, but ultimately nothing sticks out of my mind.
— You are not afraid of fantastic transformations in the movies: from the stylish Shapoklyak to Baba Yaga, whose make-up you will not immediately recognize. How easy is it for you to change your appearance?
– Baba Yaga’s external appearance was very difficult – hours of make-up, stooping, a special gait. This is a purely physical challenge. A significant part of the shooting took place in mountains, forests and very hot climates. In this case, it was necessary to wear plastic make-up and a multi-layered warm suit that completely covered the face and neck. It is really hard. With Rimma in “Cheburashka,” the visual task was different; As director Dima Dyachenko told me, you just had to be beautiful, but that’s not easy either. Maintain a proud posture, walk around the arboretum in high-heeled shoes and do not pay attention to the fact that your hair flies in the wind and gets into your mouth – this is the task of the beauty (laughing).
— You play the leading role in the play adapted from Maugham’s novel “Theater” at Sovremennik. How close are you to Julia’s line? Is it really possible for an artist to continue acting in real life?
—I do not dare to judge what may be the case with other artists; In my case, the opposite relationship occurs more often. I still get more out of life for my profession. There are moments when you feel very wounded, something happens that completely disturbs you, a kind of resentment arises at the circumstances, but the professional memory that records the emotions is activated subconsciously and you use it in your roles.

Elena Yakovleva in a scene from the drama “Light” directed by Anton Kolomeets
Photo courtesy of Capella Film distribution company
— In your opinion, what is the main task of modern theater? Why can’t cinema replace it, why does the modern audience still go to the theater?
—As for why cinema cannot replace theater, I have absolutely nothing new to say. Theater is an art created in the “here and now” mode, a direct live exchange of energy between the actors on the stage and the audience in the hall, where mistakes cannot be hidden by fiction, and therefore each performance is unique in its own way. In modern cinema there is more technical talent, special effects, in a word, entertainment. In addition, the television format and platforms make it possible to show longer stories, twist the plot wildly, talk about each character in more detail because there is more time to show than in a play. Then going to the theater is an event, a reason to dress up, put on make-up, a way to escape from the usual routine, to see your favorite artists live, because not every city has permanent theaters and corporate project tours. provide such an opportunity, for example.
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta

Brandon Hall is an author at “Social Bites”. He is a cultural aficionado who writes about the latest news and developments in the world of art, literature, music, and more. With a passion for the arts and a deep understanding of cultural trends, Brandon provides engaging and thought-provoking articles that keep his readers informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the cultural world.