www.titlovi.com
A Film about Alexeev
Hello. Don't worry, just tell us what happened here.
It is just... This keeps happening.
There's a pothole here and everyone drives into it.
The village council have only paved the road to their homes.
Anyone can kill themselves here at any moment, just like that.
Are you OK?
Me? Fine.
Don't punish anyone for my sake, for the love of God.
Please, for the love of God.
Written and directed by Mikhail Segal
Hi! Atelegram arrived for you. I signed for it.
Hello.
I used to live here.
[Speaks Tajik]
I presume the new owner rented you the flat.
[Speaks Tajik]
Can I come in?
- Hello. - What did you want? Hello.
I used to live here.
The new owner let me keep some things in the hall.
Oh, you're "the old man"?
- Come through. - Thanks.
Here's a chair for you.
Hello.
Hello. Excuse me, my friend Oleg Sergeevich used to work here.
I don't know, I've only worked here for a year.
Let's continue.
Hello. Do you remember me? I used to live here.
Hello.
I heard you playing the guitar.
I actually really really need a guitar for one day.
- Sorry, not today. - Sorry.
- Here. - What about your mum?
It goes out of tune occasionally especially above the 12 fret.
- Do you need a plectrum? - No thanks.
And there's no case. I have a blanket and some cord.
Hey! Hey! Have you heard of Nirvana?
Of course.
All well educated people have heard of nirvana.
I am Nikolai Alexeev from Tula.
OK, someone will come down for you.
- Hello. - Hello.
Please go on through. Here, let me take your guitar.
Let me take your hat.
- Can I offer you tea or coffee? - Yes, you can.
- Would you like tea or coffee? - Could I have coffee?
Espresso?
Americano, cappuccino?
- Er, no milk? - Oh, yes.
Please take a seat.
I was sent a telegram.
Just a moment.
- Are you comfortable? - Yes.
Your coffee.
- Good evening, Nikolai. - Good evening.
- My name is Lydia Arkhipova. - Sorry?
Lydia Arkhipova. I sent the telegram.
If you're ready, let's go through. You can take your coffee with you.
Thank you very much for finding time in your busy schedule to come.
- Did you get here alright? - Yes, fine.
- You found us okay? - Yes, I know this area quite well.
If you could sit here, please.
If you could say something, please.
What should I say?
- Say "one, two, three". - One, two, three. One, two, three.
This is the online broadcast. And the recording will be saved.
It's now struck midnight. Hello to everyone who's listening.
I'm not going to surprise you, I'm going to really surprise you.
After this song you'll know who our guest is today.
Well, you can't have a bard singer without humour!
Well, let's continue the intrigue.
This show is about singer-songwriters, bards.
And today we've invited a unique person,
whose songs were idolised by several generations.
Let me give you a clue. Here with us is a bard singer
whose songs were idolised by several generations,
and whose records the whole of the Soviet Union listened to,
and are still listened to now in Russia and abroad.
Let's hear what young people today say about him.
My grandfather actually sang this song to me.
And we always sang it at university.
A bleak evening descends on the city,
Agrey sunset is leaving the day.
Everything seems okay, Only my heart is uneasy.
Maybe it's the rain coming, Or maybe I'm anxious inside.
Childhood is full of worries, From the window the world looks sad.
You sit by the window, glassed in against worries.
Summer descends, hurriedly, into the darkness of its bedrooms.
We breathe in the burnt autumn leaves like Heaven.
Here with us is Nikolai Alexeev.
Poet, bard and singer-songwriter, star of the 60s and 70s.
And of course many remember him for his concert at the festival in 1980.
More than a concert, really, a heroic civic act.
- Are you Alexeev? - Yes
Hello?
Asya? Hello?
I can't hear you, Asya.
Someone called for you. I said you weren't here.
Hello?
- Hello, is this the radio? - Yes, please introduce yourself.
- My name is Elena. - Where are you from, Elena?
- I'm from Moscow. - Okay, your question.
I'm just in shock that I have this incredible opportunity
to express my love and gratitude to the person who
breathed life into our generation, literally and metaphorically.
It was a real current of fresh air, so poetic.
And it's so very nice to think back to it now.
So you used to listen to Nikolai's songs?
Yes, and we used to sing them too.
Can I tell you a story about picking potatoes?
Yes, of course.
We had to go and help pick potatoes while at university in '74, '75.
There was a student who sang Okudzhava and Vysotsky songs...
And then he started singing about potatoes!
I had a whole series of songs about potatoes.
So we're talking about 'Nikolai in the Collective Farm'?
I had a whole series of songs about Kolya (Nikolai) the student.
They're only indirectly related to potatoes, of course
The main thing is... the spirit.
Remind us of your wonderful Kolya.
- Hello. - Hello.
Are you students?
No, we're going to the bard festival.
Do you know the Samokhvalovka woods?
- Hello. - Has it broken down?
- Yes. - I see.
Okay guys, we'll go in lots in my truck.
I'll take you to the festival. But get yourselves moving. - Thanks!
- Is this yours? - Yes, thank you.
- Are you a bard singer? - No, I'm just learning to play.
I'm new to all this.
- Are you a bard? - 'Bard' is a funny label.
I always thought they're called bards because they all had beards.
Firstly, that's not the case.
Yes, and secondly, I had the whole etymology explained to me.
- Are you a student? - Yes.
I'd like to say that the main thing in Nikolai Alexeev's work
is his deep understanding of love.
I met my future deceased husband when listening to Alexeev's songs.
I used to go to a bard club and was learning to play the guitar.
A boy at the club was teaching me and one of the first things I learnt
was your song about love, called 'Streams'.
And we've stayed side by side for 40 years.
Are you feeling better, Nukolai?
Don't hurry yourself.
But it's a live broadcast!
Don't worry.
- Sorry, can I come in? I forgot my... - Sure.
- Excuse me, are you Alexeev? - Yes.
- Nikolai? - Yes.
Could I have my photo taken with you?
I'm like a child going into space!
Nobody will believe me that I met Alexeev.
I started to play the guitar and write music because of your songs.
- I'm Andrei. I also sing. - Nikolai.
Thank you very much. Sorry I interrupted you.
Andrei, perhaps you'd like to play a song with our guest for the show?
I would choose 'Kolya's Love'.
The ice has broken and two thoughts are gnawing at me.
To be or just to love? I am bound to this question like a boat to a pier.
Will you stay on after your work experience or is it boring?
No, I like your factory.
Yeah right! Developing a trigger pin?
It's creative engineering.
I think you draw brilliantly.
You didn't see.
- What? - My drawings.
I don't need to, I see you.
You draw the detail of a gun like part of the body,
like the curve of a hip.
You see how the light falls on this trigger,
standing back to look at it.
- Is today Thursday? - Yes.
Anya!
I thought it over a long time and it wasn't an easy decision.
But I think your idea to go to the cinema is great. I accept.
- I suggested going to the cinema? - There wasn't anyone else in the room.
You were there.
Don't confuse me.
So we just go to the cinema, just like that?
Better than it going to us.
Tomorrow, right?
Kolya, it's for you.
Kolya? It's Sasha. Listen, look sharp and come to Moscow tomorrow.
I can't tomorrow.
Remember what I said. There's a very good opportunity for you.
It's me.
Shh! I'll explain in a second.
Do you remember Kapitonov? He worked in your factory.
Are they realy transferring him to Moscow?
- Hi. - Hi Kolya.
- This is Asya. - Kolya.
You've come at a good time. We're just about to have lunch.
I didn't know about the chicken, but I think it'll go alright.
Of course it'll go alright.
White is for fish, isn't it? And red for chicken.
Food...
...for my mood.
Let's toast to meeting.
Really great bouquet.
I went to get Dima yesterday... Are you interested?
I went to pick him up and his nanny says:
"When he sits on the potty he recites poems by heart".
- Lika! - What? He's a child!
Well, you teach him.
Of course, he's very advanced for a two year old.
It's important to teach them young. Many people don't, nowadays.
How is it at the factory? You make weapons for the motherland?
Kolya has a lot of responsibility and his work is very secret.
- How are the concerts going? - Fine. I don't play often, but...
Kolya, it's not about quantity.
You played at the Tech. University? How was the audience?
I think audiences are always good if the musician is interesting.
Lika said you're a bard...
It's a funny label.
I used to think that it was from the verb.
Like being barred.
Sasha, bring the plates!
- Incredible! - Do you know who made it?
Our Asya!
It's good, right? Our Asya is incredible at baking.
- My baking never comes out right. - It's true.
You worm! I can criticise myself, but you should praise your wife.
But it's the truth. Asya is a great cook.
My mum's cooking is to die for. By the way, did you call her?
We need to take Dima to her. They're going to the dacha today.
- Today is Friday? - Yes.
- Not Thursday? - No.
Damn it!
How could I have got mixed up?
- What? - The tickets to the theatre!
- They're for today? - If today is Friday, then yes.
What a shame! We got mixed up.
Will you take the tickets?
It's a great play. Very intellectual.
But... You were planning to go.
We live in Moscow. We'll go another 100 times.
Alexander Volodin. "Five evenings". The second evening.
Hi!
Hello from the USA!
We've been here over 20 years.
My grandson doesn't know Russian well, but he loves singing your songs.
It's good, it's a pine forest. You can't tell it's Autumn.
There aren't any leaves...
It's good, it's a pine forest. You can't tell it's Autumn.
There aren't any leaves...
There's no understanding of love in pop music.
It's just pure entertainment.
But bard songs are also often a long way from poetry.
There's enough talentlessness everywhere.
Have you noticed that when we try to define love
we say "Love is when..."
And we start listing what it's like to be in love.
Like when flying on wings, or when you don't sleep...
We always describe its properties, but we don't define it.
It's always "when...". But we can't say "what" it is.
And what is it?
Hi! It's Sasha. Be here tomorrow with your guitar. I've made plans.
- Come on, come on! - It needs to build up speed.
Are you sure it's okay?
No, but I think it's worth trying.
You need to play them your songs. Directors often look for specific music.
What kind of director is he?
The intellectual sort.
He's one of the most interesting directors around.
The scene is missing something.
I'd like...
Stop! Go closer on the horse! Up to the firewood.
We're about to have a break. I'll introduce you.
Nikolay.
Andrei.
This comrade's come from Tula. An engineer, a friend of my friend.
He writes songs. He wants to play them to you.
Nice. But this is a historical film. It doesn't really need guitar music.
I have some old style Russian songs.
Mr. Tarkovsky, have some tea.
- We need to talk for a minute. - Yes, of course.
Tea?
And then Andrei Rublev says "love"...
Love...
They often say that word.
In this monastic world you hear it as often as
the English say "sorry".
It loses its meaning.
Andrei rebels against this profanation.
Not even with regard to the others, but inside himself.
Because he is honest with himself.
And if he underdtands that love is something abstract,
He feels physically ill and he can't continue living.
But love isn't an emotion for Andrei. It is something concrete.
- Something he can help people with. - Yes.
His love doesn't grow out of desire or lust, but out of compassion.
It is not something for himself, but something intrinsically for others.
It is when you can't live without someone.
Yes, but when we try to define love we always describe its properties,
but we can't actually give it a definition.
When you can't live... When you feel like you're on wings.
We always say "when..." but never "what".
Just doing everything you can for someone is love.
But that's often not enough to help.
For example, someone is losing blood and you need to give them yours.
It would be strange to read him prayers and say:
"I did everything I could".
I think love is...
understanding what a person really needs at that moment
and giving them that.
...understanding what a person really needs at that moment
and giving them that.
Mr Tarkovsky, the horse is ready.
Let's go.
His popularity amongst students and intellectuals was phenomenal,
but this is what one of our mentors wrote about Nikolai Alexeev.
I'm reading from a copy of a newspaper from 1973:
"Along with the heartly voices of the trendy, now mass-market bard songs
is the small, but honest voice of Nikolai Alexeev,
a lyricist, citizen, unique poet and fighter".
Bulat Okudzhava.
Another article, this one from abroad:
"There are those who swim with the tide
and there are those who swim against it.
Alexeev's unparalleled talent,
his unusual imagery and poetical skill
makes him a true jewel of modern Russian poetry"...
Joseph Brodsky.
We've come together...
...to mark an event
which completely changed the course of world history.
- Let's open the door. - He'll go away.
Nobody had ever seen the Earth from space.
- It's me. - Alexeev, go and sleep it off.
- Is Olya there? - She is not interested.
- Let's ask her. - I have already.
Alexeev! Do the right thing and leave.
Yury Gagarin's flight was not just a flight into space.
It was a flight to the stars in the metaphorical sense.
To the stars of the human courage, to the space of dreams.
Olya!
- I wrote a poem... - Olya!
It's not even a poem, it's...
Sergei, close the window please.
He may not be beautiful, he may be just a simple guy.
But they'll remember the name Gagarin for millenia...
The first booster has separated.
Please don't.
Let's just drink!
The second booster has separated.
40 seconds - the flight's going well.
I feel good!
I feel...
Citizen!
- What's wrong? - They'll explain.
Mocked comrade Gagarin's words "I feel good"
at night, drunk, by the student halls of the Tula Tech. Institute...
The words of the Hero of the Soviet Union,
the world's first astronaut...
You, a Soviet student, five minutes short of an engineer,
you're doing work experience at an arms factory,
you have access to serious information. And this behaviour...
Mocking the achievement of the Soviet people,
the first astronaut whom the Party sent into space,
and consequently, mocking the Party...
Mocking the party. Article No.64:
Antisoviet activity. Betrayal of your country.
And what are these songs of yours? Sing something.
A bleak evening descends on the city.
Agrey sunset is leaving the day...
Oh, your songs aren't bad!
You need to develop them.
It's good that your work experience is in arms. You will remain there.
They'd allotted me to Kalashnikov in lzhevsk.
We've new developments in Tula. People can be unreliable.
So your help will be of great assistance.
We've arrived, that's the main thing.
- Sveta! - Dima!
This comrade is a bard. I travelled here with him.
- Dmitry. - Alexeev.
Thanks.
Let me help you.
- I'm fine. - I'm fine too.
It's good, it's a pine forest. You can't tell it's Autumn.
There aren't any leaves.
Lida, let's go! It's too dark to take photos.
- Hello! We're staying here, I assume. - Right! You're...
Sergei Arkhipov.
- Alexander Vasiliev. - Andrei Kornikhin.
Lydia Arkhipova.
Very nice to meet you.
Go play if you want to.
Freeze!
Unfreeze!
Are you going to play?
I don't think so.
Why shouldn't I watch this film?
Anton, it's trash.
- And what isn't trash? Your "Fellinis and Pasolinis"? - Yes.
Fine. Enjoy yourself. Squares and triangles.
Do you want me to bring you my old plans on graph paper?
Why?
Because on Whatman paper it's rubbish, but on graph paper it's a concept!
Could you help me out?
I saw a fantastic French comedy recently.
With Louis de Funes.
Is that your thing?
Yes, it is. I liked the film.
What else? Some drivel about love? Every year it's the same thing.
We should watch only comedies or films about factories?
I work in a factory, so what?
Right. But you and your wife like films about love, not production units.
We have a utilitarian attitude even towards love.
It helps with work, with studying...
It brings us closer to communism.
As if love is a tool, like a pair of pliers.
But love is not for anything. It just is.
Totally.
I think love is something utilitarian.
- What? - Well, what is love?
It's when...
Not when, but what?
What kind of feeling is it?
It's proably not a feeling. Actions, more likely.
But what use is this feeling of yours to someone else?
Love is probably giving someone else everything you can.
Not even what you can, but what the other person
really needs at that moment.
Otherwise the person will lose blood
and you, instead of giving them your own blood, say:
"I'll sing you a song. That's all I can do for you".
A long separation after a long meeting,
The wind on my eyelashes. It's just you.
What will cure my heart?
Eternal paths. The first flowers.
Here in the mountains you understand the truth.
Vysotsky, Vizbor, Alexeev.
His lyrics can be funny,
sometimes they make you think, but they always...
hit you right in the heart.
Comrade Frolov, where are you going?
Mr. Frolov!
I think it's clear.
It's not.
What isn't clear, comrade...?
Alexeev.
The reason for that decision.
If everyone saw that Kalashnikov didn't come close to our results?
Comrade Alexeev!
I'll answer.
Because results aren't everything.
You need to think large scale, about the USSR's production.
Make production half the price of Kalashnikov's gun, then we'll talk.
We're not in equal positions.
We don't have our own research institute or friends in the Ministry.
We're five guys sitting in a room.
Let's not sing songs here before our employers.
What do songs have to do with this?
Because you're taking on a lot.
You are very well informed.
And you inform others.
Or would like us to talk to your colleagues about this?
Mr. Alexeev! Don't run off. I'm just proposing we talk here.
I'm not summoning you anywhere. Be reasonable.
Shine, shine, Clear sun
Are you mad?
Though nothing is clear to me.
Fly, fly, weak bird,
Fly away to where it's warm.
Forgive me, forgive me, Pretty girl, for not meeting you.
My road here is no more.
Awaiting me now is a fatal battle.
I am ready for your questions.
People often ask this interesting question.
It seems naive, but it's a fundamental question:
"What is love?"
Giving someone all you can?
Let's think about this.
Kolya in space, In his own room,
Is completely free, Proud and happy!
We don't have much free time here,
but we watch films and listen to music.
I'd like to thank the Russian poet Nikolai Alexeev.
For making our planet look less cold from above.
I'm holding a record featuring that song...
I don't know if you still have a copy but I bought two back then.
And this one is like new. A Melodia special release.
Where are you guys from?
- Kursk. - Belgorod. - Oriol.
Over there is the place where Penza was written.
- You know alcohol's not allowed? - Yes.
- Hello. I'm Alexeev. - Hello. From where?
- They were supposed to tell you. - About?
About the separate tent.
- Nobody told me anything. - I'm a prize winning singer.
- I should go. - Wait a second.
No' my friends, should've arrived this morning.
Comrade, I'm sorry but I haven't been told anything.
Gorodnitsky is here!
Why aren't you going with everyone?
Thanks, I'll go later.
- You are a famous bard. - Not me.
I'm a young journalist.
You always go against the tide.
It's good it's a pine forest. You can't tell it's Autumn.
- Are you going right into the forest? - Better than it going into me.
- Can I come with you? - It's a big forest.
You're sad
The concert is about to start. It'll be fun there.
I don't need fun.
It'll be sad there too. Satirical, lyrical... It'll be interesting.
- Being with you is interesting. - What about for me?
No, I don't think so... Maybe I also write songs.
Do you know if Gorodnitsky is playing today or tomorrow?
- I don't need Gorodnitsky. - Nobody needs him.
Alright, what shall we talk about?
I don't know, it's not important.
- That's talking for you. - Maybe I love you.
What?
In the literal sense.
OK.
Sorry.
In the literal sense... And how do you love me?
Not yet.
Quietly, tenderly, for yourself?
How do girls usually love?
Do you know what love is?
Not for yourself, not all that lovey-dovey stuff, but real love?
Loving is not for yourself. Love is giving something to someone else.
And not what you think you can give,
but what the person you love needs now.
If someone is going to die and is losing blood,
instead of giving your own blood, you say "Let me sing you a song"?
Right.
Not yet.
Hi everyone! The concert starts right now.
Where is Tarasov?
And is Demianenko here?
I ran like a wolf, flew like a bird,
From the eyes and shots Boring into my back.
I wound past like a stream
Crept like the grass,
Led home by the animal way.
Hello mum, I'm a deserter.
I didn't come back on my shield. I came back in dishonour.
I had enough of fighting. I hit myself against the world.
Scared by the light, Marked for a sentence.
You know, mum, I saw how dust
Turns to stone, mixed into blood.
I crawled along it, Hundreds of miles,
To end up hung By my home.
Can you take in he whom you bore And raised to be a person?
I didn't become a solider.
You couldn't teach me to get used to bloody rivers.
I'm half a dog. Give me your hand.
Where is your hand?
I'll give you all I brought
A slice of my heart, half a sip of my soul.
- Hello. - Hello.
Give me a second.
Will you explain what's going on? Why are you here at night?
Sorry.
- Hello. - Hello.
- This is my mother. - Nice to meet you.
What are you doing here?
I was visiting Moscow and I asked Sasha to show me where he works.
Please excuse us.
No, it's fine.
Of course, better to do this during the day.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
Written and directed by Mikhail Segal
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