 Vladimir Valentinovich Menshov - Russian director and actor, noted for the depicting of the Russian Everyman and working class life in his films. Born on September, 17, 1937 in Baku (then USSR, now the territory of Azerbaijan) like many Russian directors and actors Menshov studied acting and directing at the state film school VGIK.
Although his filmography as actor is superior to that as director (actually confined to only five movies), he will be remembered first of all as Academy Award (Oscar) winning film director, one of the most popular and beloved directors in Russia. His only second feature length "Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears" (1979) (starring his wife Vera Alentova) brought him international recognition and Oscar for the Best Foreign Film. Menshov did not attend the Academy Award ceremony personally because he could not leave the country due to some problems of political nature and the prize statuette was accepted by the USSR Commissioner to the US. The film itself is a moving story of three girlfriends who arrive in Moscow in search for a better life. A great melodrama in the first place, on a close analysis, the film can be seen as a biography of a whole generation since in the late 1970s lots of young people abandoned their provincial towns with no opportunities for good jobs and strove to settle in Russian capital. In 1999 the 20th anniversary of the film`s original release was celebrated at a series of events around Russia. An immensely popular comedy of manners "Love and Pigeons" (1984) about a rural farmer peasant falling in love with a glamour urban lady ensured that his career continued to glitter. In a decade that followed he refrained from directing and in his rare interviews was very critical of the cinema industry. In 1995 he made "What a Mess!" - a very long extravaganza satirizing practically every aspect of cultural and political life in Russia. The film showed that these "off the job" years had not affected his talent. "The Envy of Gods" (2000) - a nostalgic drama - demonstrated his longing for the Soviet era life style. Although criticized by some for "being too simple", Menshov is affectionately loved by ordinary cinema-goers who see him as one of a very few directors capable of creating a perfect comedy or drama out of a down-to-earth situation.
Filmography as actor
1."Likvidatsiya" (2007) TV Series
2.Apocalypse Code (2007)
3."Diversant 2" (2007) (mini) TV Series The Saboteur 2
4."U.E." (2006) (mini) TV Series
5.Dnevnoy dozor (2006) Day Watch
6.Brezhnev (2005) (TV)
7.Nochnoy bazar (2005)
8.Vremya sobirat` kamni (2005)
9.32oe dekabrya (2004) (TV)
10."Moskva. Tsentralnyy okrug - 2" (2004) (mini) TV Series
11.Nochnoy dozor (2004) Night Watch
12."Balzakovskiy vozrast, ili Vse muzhiki svo..."
13."Diversant" (2004) (mini) TV Series The Saboteur
14."Vremya zhestokikh" (2004) (mini) TV Series
15."Moskva. Tsentralnyy okrug" (2003) TV Series Moscow. Central District
16.Spartak i Kalashnikov (2002) Spartacus and Kalashnikov
17."Lednikovyy period" (2002) (mini) TV Series
18."Posledniy geroy" (2002) TV Series
19.8 ½ $ (1999)
20."Dose detektiva Dubrovskogo" (1999) TV Series Detective Dubrovski Files
21.Kitayskiy serviz (1999 Chinese Tea-Set
22.Tsarevich Aleksei (1996) Czarevitch Alexei
23.Shirli-Myrli (1995) What a Mess!
24.Russkiy regtaym (1993) Russian Ragtime
25.Chtoby vyzhit (1993) To Survive
26.Trotsky (1993)
27.Novyy Odeon (1992) New Odeon
28.V toy oblasti nebes (1992) That Part of Heaven...
29.General (1992)
30.Abdulladzhan, ili posvyashchaetsya Stivenu Spilbergu (1991) Abdulladzhan, or Dedicated to Steven Spielberg
31.Otdushina (1991) A Vent
32.Depressiya (1991)
33.Ubiystvo na monastyrskikh prudakh (1990) (TV) Murder at Cloister Ponds
34.Samoubiytsa (1990) Suicide
35.Ivin A. (1990)
36.Otche nash (1989) Our Father in Heaven
37.Gorod Zero (1988) Zero City
38.Kukolka (1988) A Little Doll
39.Kurer (1987) The Messenger Boy
40.Gde nakhoditsya Nofelet? (1987) Where Is Enohp Located?
41.God telyonka (1986) Year of a calf
42.Dorogoy Edison (1986) (TV) Dear Edison
43.Prosti (1986) Forgive Me
44.Perekhvat (1986) Interception
45.Snegurochku vyzyvali? (1985) (TV)
46.Lyubov i golubi (1984) Love and Pigeons
47.Magistral (1983)
48.Pod odnim nebom (1982) Under One Sky
49.Vremya dlya razmyshleniy (1982) (TV) A Time for Reflections
50.Yesli vrag ne sdayotsya... (1982) If the Enemy Doesn`t Surrender...
51.Gibloe delo (1981)
52.Fedia (1978)
53.Skaz pro to, kak tsar Pyotr arapa zhenil (1976) Tale About Czar Pyotr Arranging Arap`s Wedding
54.Rozygrysh (1976) Practical Joke
55.Sobstvennoye mneniye (1976) Own Opinion
56.Ar-khi-me-dy! (1975) Ar-chi-me-des!
57.Poslednyaya vstrecha (1974) The Last Meeting
58.Solyonyy pyos (1973) Salty Dog
59.Chelovek na svoyom meste (1972) A Man at His Place
Director:
1.Zavist bogov (2000) The Envy of Gods
2.Shirli-Myrli (1995) What a Mess!
3.Lyubov i golubi (1984) Love and Pigeons
4.Moskva slezam ne verit (1980) Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears
5.Rozygrysh (1976) Practical Joke
Writer:
1.Zavist bogov (2000) The Envy of Gods
2.Shirli-Myrli (1995) What a Mess!
3.Noch korotka (1981) Night Is Short
4.Ya sluzhu na granitse (1973) I Serve at the Border
Producer:
1.Zavist bogov (2000) (producer) The Envy of Gods
2.Lyubov zla (1999) (producer)
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