Those who are trying to move a five-story building with their shoulders?

They said the same about Bazarov, but now we understand that such people move society.

It’s not a matter of a five-story building, but a desire to change the world, the political system, and human thinking. They are actively searching. And it doesn’t matter what their results are. These are restless people, thirsty for discovery. Bazarov, with his composure, is the same, because we look at him and understand: something needs to be changed, everything has stagnated. So, when they say: “Why such youth?”, I want to answer: “This is the best youth, restless, who can change the country and people’s thinking. Let it only destroy everything around now. Five years later, the same youth..."

This is the worst thing that can happen. But what if one of them starts to create something? Then he will create much more than he destroyed in his youth.

90% of the hero is the person himself. If I say: “You are not my brother, you black-assed bastard,” it will immediately be racism. And with Bodrov it’s mixed with heroism. With this half-smile and some kind of honesty that you don’t even want to accuse him of racism, because... [that’s] the damn charisma he has.

Is it even important to look for a hero of our time in modern cinema? Should I try? Who should I ask? Actors, directors, playwrights? Yes, it is important, because the whole country is judged by the hero at a certain time. At one time there were Bazarov, Onegin, Pechorin, and it was clear what kind of country this was. If now is a time without heroes, then it becomes somehow sad.

Can an actor carry out curatorial activities, selecting roles for himself and building a career according to what kind of character he wants to play? Not really. For example, one fairly well-known actress complained to me: “I am perceived only as a beauty. All the time they offer me some divas from the magazine. I say: “Guys, give me something characteristic.” Only one believed in me and let me play.” Of course, a certain image is assigned to you, and they begin to offer you roles that you guarantee.

If you do a good job, in fact, you are being used. Your job is to figure out how to fix it. You can play the role a little differently. Will you succeed and do you even need to do this? Some people like to ride on the same skis - high-quality skis, they are lubricated all the time, the track is made in front of you. Fine. Another question is, is it interesting? How long will you be interested in riding them?

Are you interested? You know, in principle, I’m never interested in doing what I’ve already done. This is sometimes bad, because I even get bored playing the same thing twice. I'm not even talking about the third and fourth time. Someone will say that all my roles are similar, but I don’t think so: “All at once”, “Bitter!” - these are still different types of people. They have something in common: they are all from simple families, not particularly enriched with intelligence, not from the intelligentsia, the proletariat, but this is like 80% of our country. And all these people are different!

Would you like to play someone like Danila Bagrov? I dreamed of working with Balabanov on a similar role.

Did you do anything for this? I called Balabanov several times when I was still a student. Only on the third time did the wife say that he was home and handed over the phone. Before that, he was in the hospital, or something. And I told him: “Alexey Oktyabrovich, I really want to work with you. I can’t even work, I don’t know why I’m calling.” - “What do you want?” - “I don’t know what I want. I just like your movie and what you talk about. And I don’t even know, it’s hard to ask about work, I just want to see each other.” He told me: “Sasha, I’m writing a script, call me in a year,” and the beeps rang. A year passes, but I don’t dare call. I put it off for a week, a month. Six months later he was gone. Of course, even if I called, it wouldn't solve anything. You won't be able to do anything in six months. But maybe I would meet him in person.