Alexander Askoldov died

Today, May 21, filmmaker Alexander Askoldov died in Sweden at the age of 85.

It is reported by Interfax .

Alexander Yakovlevich Askoldov was born in 1932 in Moscow, graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Moscow State University (1955) and graduate school of the Literary Institute (1958). He helped Elena Bulgakova to compile an inventory of the archive of Mikhail Bulgakov, was engaged in the popularization of the writer’s work, later worked in the apparatus of the USSR Ministry of Culture by the assistant Minister of Culture Ekaterina Furtseva, and was a member of the scenario and editorial board of the USSR Goskino.

In 1966 he entered the highest directorial courses, and as a thesis was shot the film “Commissar” (1967) based on the story of Vasily Grossman “In the city of Berdichev” with Rolan Bykov and Nonny Mordyukova in the main roles. The Commissar was banned for showing, its author was fired from the studio with the wording “professionally unsuitable”.

The picture was first shown in 1988 at the San Francisco Film Festival, at the Berlin Film Festival in the same year she received the Silver Bear prize.

The Commissioner remained the director’s only film film, he also shot several documentary films.

In recent years, Alexander Askoldova taught in film schools and universities in Europe, published several books.

PS The funeral of Alexander Askoldov will take place in Sweden, where his daughter and granddaughter live, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the guild of directors of the Russian Cinematographers Union.