In a public dialogue about a tense moment on set, Tatyana Piletskaya, a People’s Artist of Russia, weighed in on statements made by Latvian actor Ivars Kalnins, replying in a widely read publication. The veteran performer described the incident as emblematic of a pattern she had observed, noting that Kalnins previously displayed a sneering, dismissive attitude toward colleagues. The encounter occurred during a collaborative filming phase for the movie Silva at the Lenfilm studio, a location steeped in cinematic history that often brings together talents from across the Baltic and wider European scene.
According to Piletskaya, she greeted Kalnins with a warm, cheerful greeting—“Ivar, hello!”—yet his response was terse and contemptuous, barely registering her presence with a cold, lip‑tight reply: “Hello.” She said the moment passed without a word more, leaving her startled by what she described as a mix of arrogance and malice directed toward another actor on set. This reaction, she suggested, reflected not just personal mood but a broader climate she perceived during the shoot, one where professional courtesy could be overshadowed by ego and rivalry, even in a project that brought together seasoned performers from Russia and neighboring regions.
Kalnins had, in the spring of 2022, announced a pause or end to his collaborations with Russian theaters, film directors, and television producers, a decision he framed in terms of shifting career priorities and artistic方向. He expressed regret about certain roles he had accepted in Russia and the paths those choices had opened for him. These disclosures underscored a transition in his professional life that resonated beyond the individual actor, touching on ongoing conversations about cross‑border artistic collaboration, national cinema landscapes, and the evolving loyalties and pressures experienced by performers in a changing cultural arena. In Latvia, the topic of Kalnins’s remarks about a well‑known Russian actress, Chulpan Khamatova, who had left Russia, further amplified discussions about artistic identity, mobility, and the responsibilities that come with public statements from performers who work across national lines.