To the vast majority of Russian-speaking viewers of the planet, Alexander Adabashyan (see photo below) is known for the phrase: “Oatmeal, sir!” In Soviet times, it was very popular. When pronouncing it, the image of the butler Barrymore from the painting “The Hound of the Baskervilles” pops up in memory. But very few people know that Alexander played him brilliantly.
For those who are seriously interested in cinema, Adabashyan is known as an actor (but only for minor and episodic roles). Alexander was remembered by a considerable number of people for the film adaptation of Boris Akunin's works about the lucky detective Erast Fandorin, which was released in 2002. This article will describe a brief biography of Adabashyan. So let's get started.
Childhood and studies
Adabashyan Alexander Artemovich was born in Moscow in 1945. Since childhood, the boy had artistic inclinations, so the parents planned to develop their son in this particular path. Cinema was not included in Adabashyan's life plans at all. In 1971 Alexander graduatedart school and unexpectedly found himself in a completely different field. Naturally, it was cinema. How did this happen? There were two reasons for this. Firstly, Alexander had a literary and journalistic gift. Secondly, Adabashyan had an acquaintance with a number of well-known filmmakers (Nikita Mikhalkov and others). It was they who advised the young man to try himself in a new field. And Alexander Adabashyan followed their recommendations.
Career start
It immediately became clear to everyone that the hero of this article is a talented person. Soviet viewers probably remember the painting "Friends Among Strangers". Now it has become an undisputed classic of the genre. So, Alexander, along with the director and actors, took part in creating the indescribable atmosphere of this film. He worked as a production designer. He also played a cameo role in the film.
Cinematographer
Perhaps, Alexander Adabashyan deserved this title like no other. At the moment, behind the shoulders of the actor - more than twenty paintings. In addition to the legendary role of Barrymore in The Hound of the Baskervilles, he was remembered by a wide range of viewers for two more images - a bailiff ("12") and Berlioz ("The Master and Margarita").
Production Designer and Screenwriter
In this capacity, Alexander Adabashyan is the creator of such films as "Black Eyes", "Kin", "Five Evenings", "Slave of Love", etc. In general, his creative piggy bank includes about twenty films.
Director
Alexander Adabashyan himself calls his debut in this field a gamble. It all started in 1992, when the French offered him to write the script for the film Mado, Poste restante. Based on the novel by the writer Simone Arez. As a result, Adabashyan wrote a script that was completely different from the original.
The French read everything and began to ask Alexander clarifying questions. Adabashyan so artistically and enthusiastically defended his own version that the producers decided to entrust him with the production of the film. After the release, the picture won prizes at several festivals. Alexander said that he does not consider himself a director and has not filmed anything for more than ten years.
The next directorial work of Adabashyan was the film adaptation of the detective novel "Azazel" written by Boris Akunin. The premiere took place in 2002. Akunin, under the terms of the contract concluded with ORT, could choose both actors and director for the film adaptation of his work. He was offered a rather long list, and Boris chose Adabashyan. The writer explained his decision by the fact that he really liked Alexander's film "Mado". Akunin also considered the hero of this article a talented artist and screenwriter.
Opinions of colleagues
Alexander is highly valued in professional circles. All colleagues in the workshop speak of him only positively. Here is how the actress Marina Pupenina, who starred in his Azazel, described Adabashyan: “We came to visit him. The maestro regaled us with incredible stories. Four hours have passedimperceptibly. Alexander Artemovich is an aristocratic, delicate and refined person. I would love to work with him again.”
Recognition
Adabashyan Alexander, whose biography is presented above, is not very well known to the mass audience. But in professional circles, everyone knows about his merits and considers him a true master. Alexander Artyomovich is a laureate of the State Prize of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of Russia, winner of the Silver Pegasus (prize for the best foreign script) and laureate of the Fellini Prize. In addition, do not forget that the hero of this article was the production designer of "Khovanshchina" and "Boris Godunov" for the two most famous theaters in the world - La Scala and Mariinsky.
