Director Zhora Kryzhovnikov opened up during an interview with the YouTube channel What to Watch, revealing personal struggles that shaped him early in life. He recalled facing two difficult moments in adolescence, each leaving a lasting mark on his path in cinema. The first instance involved him walking away from a fight, choosing safety over confrontation. The second incident ended differently; while he stayed in the conflict, it turned out to be a mistake he later recognized. Kryzhovnikov shared that the altercation left him with a broken jaw, a harsh consequence that required medical care in a Moscow hospital. The experience became a defining memory, informing his later work and approach to storytelling.
Kryzhovnikov also spoke about his ambitious project, The Boy’s Word, which he and his team planned as a multi-season arc. The team envisioned three seasons, each set in a distinct year and era. The director described the first season as taking place in 1989, the second in 1991, and the third in 1993, with each period presenting a markedly different social landscape. He referred to these years as unique, almost separate worlds, and he emphasized that he personally lived through those times and retains vivid memories of the atmosphere, tensions, and everyday details that defined them. This personal connection, he noted, lends authenticity to the scenes and characters imagined for the series.
In outlining the project, Kryzhovnikov explained that the different years offered a wealth of material and a rich set of stories that could be explored on screen. Despite the potential, he has chosen to pause on The Boy’s Word for now. The director indicated that he wants to shift his focus to other creative ventures and continue exploring new ideas. Only after these new projects are developed does he plan to revisit the possibility of continuing the series, bringing with him the lessons learned from the initial concept and the experiences that shaped it.
Earlier remarks from the creator of A Boy’s Word discussed additional scenes from the series that had been reshot. Those updates highlighted the ongoing process of refining the storytelling, ensuring that the envisioned world would resonate with audiences while maintaining the integrity of the established characters and narrative threads.