Director Pavel Lungin, who holds a French passport, spoke in an interview with Arguments and Facts about his decision not to move from Russia to France. He opened up about the practical and emotional balance that guides his choice to stay connected to his homeland while maintaining a presence abroad.
Lungin acknowledges that he owns a home in Paris and has a residence in Montenegro. He explained that there are moments when proximity to his country matters deeply. He believes that being around the people and places that define Russia is essential. His family, work, and community are part of the reason he remains near rather than far away, contributing to the country he calls home.
In the discussion, he revealed a nuanced view of those who decide to leave Russia due to the strained relations with Europe and the United States. He stressed that every person has his or her own set of circumstances. Some face fear, others bear the care of ill relatives, while some experience personal upheavals that lead them abroad. Lungin described a risky dynamic where people are labeled as either staying or leaving, warning that such a binary view can be harmful and misleading.
Within the same conversation, former rock musician Sergei Galanin weighed in on the topic of artists departing from Russia. The remarks reflect a broader conversation about cultural life, migration, and the pressures artists feel in varying geopolitical climates. The exchange highlights the delicate balance between personal liberty and national identity in times of global tension.