Childhood and youth
The biography of the talented director began in Chisinau. Kolya was born into a family that had nothing to do with cinema. Mother Elena Alekseevna is an economist, father Igor Nikolaevich is a military man, having retired to the reserve, he worked as an engineer at a factory.
Director Nikolay Lebedev
In early childhood, Nikolai was seriously fascinated by the world of cinema: having watched enough feature films, he also dreamed of trying on the image of a director and even wrote a script. The boy made his first film at the age of 10 with a camera borrowed from his father's friend. The parents, who considered interest in cinema to be nothing more than self-indulgence, gave in and gave their son a Lomo video camera.
Nikolai, who had grown up, never thought of parting with his childhood dream. After school, I went to conquer the selection committee of VGIK, but failed triumphantly. In order not to waste time, at the insistence of my parents I had to enroll in the Faculty of Journalism. At first he studied in his hometown, and later transferred to Moscow State University.
Nikolai Lebedev in his youth
Although journalism fascinated me, it never became my main profession. The stubborn young man nevertheless joined the ranks of VGIK, albeit in absentia. In 1993, Nikolai Lebedev held in his hands the coveted diploma from the Faculty of Screenwriting and Film Studies.
While studying at the journalism department, Nikolai worked as a correspondent for printed publications. Later, as a director and screenwriter, he participated in the creation of the children's television program "Sesame Street", as well as documentaries about the Russian capital, which were broadcast on television.
Nikolai Lebedev: I was the husband of Lyubov Orlova
Viewers remember this actor from the good old film “Evdokia”, where he played together with Lyudmila Khityaeva. It was fifty years ago! This year the actor, who conquered the entire Soviet Union with the role of the courageous, reliable Evdokim, will turn ninety years old. We visited him to find out what and how Nikolai Sergeevich lives now.
It is impossible to imagine, when you look at this active, living man, that he went through the war and German camps. That he not only remembers Stalin well, but theoretically could also see Lenin - when the leader died, Muscovite Nikolai Lebedev was three years old. That such names as Zavadsky, Serova, Orlova, Maretskaya, Plyatt, Mordvinov are not just names from history for him, but real people with whom he communicated, played together on stage and was friends...
“True, fate has divorced many of those who are still alive,” admits Nikolai Sergeevich. – Someone achieved a high position and became completely different. Power and honor change people. But I don't admit it. I have been working at the Mossovet Theater for fifty years, and for me the closest people are the stagehands and all the technical staff. I communicate with them as equals and cannot imagine any other relationship. Nikolai Sergeevich’s whole life is divided into “before” and “after”. Before the war and the camp and after them. In the thirties, Nikolai studied in a theater studio, he dreamed of becoming an actor. Moreover, for the sake of art, he even dropped out of school - he was simply kicked out of there for absenteeism. After graduating from the studio, Lebedev joined the youth troupe of the Moscow Youth Theater, from where he was drafted into the army. This was in 1940. So it is clear that in 1941 Lebedev immediately went to the front.
“I know everything about the war,” he says rightfully. – Because I myself saw how it all began. The government did nothing to prepare for hostilities and to ensure order. I was sent to the front without weapons! They didn't give anything. Then they gave me a pistol... The machine gun appeared much later, when someone was killed and I simply took the place of this fighter. People in 1941 were in despair; many did not believe that there would be victory. What did Stalin do? The Germans were already walking around the Moscow region, captured Khimki, and performances were taking place at the Bolshoi Theater. There is a parade on Red Square. Acting crews performed for soldiers who had just returned from the front line. The fighters used this time to sleep, and the actors had to perform in front of dead tired people who could not even hold their heads up.
Soon Lebedev was captured and sent to a German camp. He ran away several times. Once they couldn’t find him for a long time; he walked barefoot throughout occupied Ukraine. And when he crossed the front line, the Germans caught him.
“Well, of course, they wanted to shoot, interrogations, beatings, bullying - that was all,” recalls Lebedev. “Every time a miracle saved me.” For example, after this escape, in a group of Gestapo men I came across a German who, during the NEP, was an artist and performed in Russia. I knew a little German and talked with him about Moscow artists. He named the names of Utesov and others, claiming that they all knew me personally. Although this, of course, could not have happened, because at that time I was a child. In general, the German took a liking to me, and thanks to this I was not killed.
In general, according to the actor, his life is full of mysticism and happy accidents. For example, when people were liberated from a German camp, they then spent 25 years in Soviet camps. But Lebedev was miraculously not imprisoned.
– I was interrogated thirty-three times! Then they followed me for many years,” says the actor. “I remember that during one of the first interrogations, I, a man who had suffered hunger for several years, weakened by the camp, was given a full glass of cognac and a cigar. Especially so that I would drink and blurt everything out. And I chatted everything I knew! But since I was confident in my innocence and remembered what I did and where I was every day of captivity, they believed me. You were lucky, but you could have been imprisoned or shot without figuring it out. In general, I think it’s good that all this happened. But I understood people, I understood life...
One cannot help but be shocked, especially against the backdrop of our time, by the upbringing of this person. At the age of ninety, he might no longer care about manners. But Lebedev regularly hands the ladies coats, kisses their hands, and maintains his posture.
“Of course, at the Moscow Art Theater School, where I entered after the war, we were taught manners by a princess named Volkonskaya,” says Nikolai Sergeevich. – The older generation, for example Lyosha Batalov, studied in the same course with me, an adult guy. And so we learned to properly use cutlery, get into a car, look after a lady... Imagine what an impression all this made on me after the war, famine and camps.
Of course, in Soviet times people did not forget their past. And after graduating from the Moscow Art Theater School, Lebedev at first could not get into any theater - they did not take him, because the application form said “was in captivity.” But Yuri Zavadsky, head of the Mossovet Theater, took a risk. And in the sixties, the actor began to be cast in films. His first fame was brought to him by the films “Normandie-Niemen” and “Coeval of the Century”. Then director Tatyana Lioznova invited her to play the main role in the film “Evdokia”.
“You know, I was an ordinary boy, even though I went through the war,” Lebedev himself is surprised. – When I studied at the Moscow Art Theater School and then, in the fifties, I ran to the cinema and looked with admiration at such actresses as Lyubov Orlova, Valentina Serova, Natalya Fateeva, Lyudmila Khityaeva, Rufina Nifontova, Nadezhda Rumyantseva... In all of them, in good in the sense of the word, fell in love. And then fate brought me together with all of them in the theater or cinema. And as a rule, I played their husbands!
After the success of the film “Evdokia”, true popularity came to Lebedev. They began to recognize him on the streets, take autographs, women were crazy about the courageous, kind and sympathetic movie hero. And they thought that the actor was the same in life.
– When I came to events with my wife, actress Anna Georgievna Kasenkina, women came up and asked her: “Is Nikolai as good in life as Evdokim?” To which she answered with a laugh: “No!” Of course, I'm not like that at all. And unlike Evdokim, he did not forgive his betrayal of his first wife. She was also an actress, and we rented a house together. And one day she called and said that she was spending the night with her father. My intuition told me something, the next morning I went to her father and found out that she was not there. Then I returned, collected her things and put them out the door. That's all... So to the question: “What would you do in Evdokim’s place?” - I answer directly: “I would rip her head off!” And to the question: “Did you yourself remain faithful to your spouses?” – I answer like this: “No comment” (laughs).
Unfortunately, his wife, with whom Nikolai Sergeevich lived for more than half a century, died three years ago. They had no children together. But he raised Anna Georgievna’s son from his first marriage as his own.
“Now my son is already 60 years old,” says the actor. “And I live with him and his wife.” There are no grandchildren, and I don’t ask the question: “Why?” I don't interfere in their affairs. I'm happy with life. I consider myself a happy person! I saw so much, fate brought me together with so many interesting people. Sometimes I can’t even believe that in December I will be ninety years old. The main thing I’m glad about is that I still have a clear mind and I remember everything. This is the most important thing at my age.
It would seem that the collapse of the Soviet Union, against the backdrop of everything that happened, should have been perceived by Lebedev as a great joy.
“But that’s not entirely true...” says the actor. – For example, the personality of Stalin is a mystery to me. At the same time, I want to make a reservation right away: I hate him too. He ruined my life, because in 1937 many of my relatives suffered. I've suffered enough. But at the same time, I am sure that in two generations there will be even more interest in Stalin, which is already there now. This is a personality, albeit with a minus sign. I wanted to find Svetlana Alliluyeva through friends, she is now abroad, and ask her to write everything openly about her father and explain what motivated him. Although maybe she doesn’t know that either.
Now Nikolai Sergeevich receives dividends for his martyrdom - both moral, when he is interviewed on this topic, and even material... A fund has been created in Germany, it pays money to former Soviet prisoners of war who were imprisoned in fascist camps. True, there are very few of these prisoners of war left. And among those who achieved a position in society and became famous, Lebedev was alone. Therefore, there is increased interest in it.
“They asked me to describe in detail all the atrocities and bullying that took place in the camp,” says the actor. – Imagine, I have to tell the Germans about the atrocities of their ancestors! They needed this in order to educate young people on such stories. So that this never happens again. But I refused a detailed story, I don’t want to go back to the past.
The artist already understands that, with all his cheerfulness and clear mind, he will never be able to throw out of his memory what happened. For example, he still, despite the abundance, cannot throw away bread. Out of habit, he even puts crumbs from the table into his mouth, because he remembers hunger.
“I’m interested in the current time, even though I don’t accept much about it,” says Nikolai Sergeevich. – Well, things like advertising or TV series are understandable. But the achievements of civilization, of course, amaze me. I perceive them as a miracle! Recently, with the help of my son, I started using the Internet. I send emails. It always surprises me that within 5 minutes you receive a response to your letter. I also use a cell phone.
And it's all about him…
Nikolai Sergeevich Lebedev was born in 1921 in Moscow. Parents were theater workers. Mother worked as a cashier at the Mossovet Theater. Graduated from the theater studio of Khmelev and Efros. Then he worked at the Theater for Young Spectators. He joined the army in 1940. In 1941 he went to the front (he was a machine gunner). In 1941 he was captured and spent several years in fascist concentration camps. After returning home, he entered the Moscow Art Theater School. Then he was accepted into the Mossovet Theater, where he still works. Since the early sixties he has been acting in films. The films “Normandie-Niemen”, “Coeval of the Century”, “Evdokia” brought fame. Now Nikolai Lebedev is not acting in films.
Movies
Lebedev made his directorial debut in 1991. He presented the short film “Overnight” to the audience and critics. Friday" and received rave reviews. A creepy picture in the genre of psychological horror tells about a girl who accidentally finds herself in the other world, where she awaits a meeting with her deceased mother, lover and other familiar people.
Evgeny Mironov and Olga Ostroumova in Nikolai Lebedev’s film “Snake Spring”
The first full-length film showed that a director had appeared who promised to make a serious contribution to Russian cinema. In the thriller “Snake Spring” (1997), Nikolai Igorevich spoke with the viewer on the topic of the province, showing a strong personal position and showing life without embellishment. Famous actors starred in this work: Dmitry Maryanov, Ekaterina Guseva, Evgeny Mironov, Lev Borisov. After the release of the film, the director began to be compared to Alfred Hitchcock.
Maria Poroshina in Nikolai Lebedev's film "Fan"
Two years later, Nikolai Lebedev again surprised movie fans with his ability to create vivid characters torn apart by passions. The film “Fan” (1999) again brought together the acting talent - Maria Poroshina, Sergei Garmash, Elena Safonova, Nina Usatova and went to the Kinoshock film festival, where it won a scattering of prestigious awards.
In 2002, Nikolai Igorevich addressed the topic of the Great Patriotic War, presenting the film “Star”. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Emmanuel Kazakevich, the main character of which, Lieutenant Travkin, goes on a raid outside the front with a group of scouts. During the operation, all soldiers died.
Igor Petrenko in Nikolai Lebedev’s film “Star”
The war drama, in which Igor Petrenko was entrusted with the key role, added to the director’s fame. However, critics were not so favorable, accusing the director of not respecting the author's word. However, Nikolai Igorevich saw success precisely in this - if criticism “rumbles and fires,” it means the work was a success.
The next notable film was the film “Wolfhound of the Gray Dogs,” released in 2006. The fantastic film is a free interpretation of Maria Semenova’s book “Wolfhound”. The director changed the storylines significantly, so agreeing on the script with the writer was difficult. And yet Maria Vasilievna remained pleased that Lebedev undertook to shoot the film.
Alexander Bukharov in Nikolai Lebedev’s film “The Wolfhound of the Gray Dogs”
The main roles went to Alexander Bukharov and Oksana Akinshina. To film the fairy-tale scenes, they chose the landscapes of Slovakia, which critics called the brightest side of the film. I didn’t like everything else; the film received a wave of criticism for its plot weakness. This did not prevent the film from winning the Golden Eagle Award for the brilliant work of the production designer.
In 2007, Nikolai Lebedev filmed the military series “Apostle”, started by director Gennady Sidorov, who abandoned the work halfway through. Later, director Yuri Moroz joined the process.
Evgeny Mironov in Nikolai Lebedev’s film “Apostle”
12 episodes tell the story of twin brothers who became German saboteurs who agreed to cooperate with the NKVD. Evgeny Mironov got used to the images of the main characters. The picture was also decorated with acting by Nikolai Fomenko, Daria Moroz, Andrey Smirnov.
The work of Nikolai Igorevich was talked about with renewed vigor after the release of the film “Legend No. 17,” which presented the biography of the famous hockey player Valery Kharlamov. Danila Kozlovsky reincarnated as the legendary athlete.
Nikolai Lebedev on the set of the film “Legend No. 17”
Critics greeted the director's work enthusiastically, only some were dissatisfied, accusing Lebedev of mythologizing the image of the hockey player. The ribbon took away six Golden Eagle figurines.
In the spring of 2021, viewers were eagerly awaiting the announced premiere of Nikolai Lebedev’s new film “Crew”. The director dreamed of making a disaster film, and finally the opportunity presented itself.
Nikolai Lebedev on the set of the film “Crew”
The adventure drama about the everyday life of pilots became a joint work of actors Danila Kozlovsky, Vladimir Mashkov and Agne Grudite, who took courses at a flight school before filming. The blockbuster “Crew” collected record amounts at the box office, and Lebedev was named director of the year.
Adventurer
“Legend N17” and “Crew” are projects on a grand scale. How can they be implemented in the conditions of our film industry?
Nikolay Lebedev:
She's not that frail! I had experience working in Los Angeles, in London - the same process everywhere. And the problems are the same - you just need to be able to take the blow. There is an opinion that a large budget protects against problems. That this is not so - I was convinced by “Wolfhound from the Family of Gray Dogs”. You can have money, but if you don’t know how to use it correctly, choose the right people, build production, if you yourself are not ready, you will fail! On “Legend” and “Ekipazh” I had a strong team, and if problems arose, we did not get lost and solved them. The brilliant cameraman Irek Hartovich can shoot in any conditions and always finds a way out of the most difficult situations. On “Phonogram of Passion” we filmed on a square in the center of Moscow, we prepared for two days, set up a cordon, freed it from cars - and suddenly there was a disaster: it rained like a wall. And there should be a sunny day in the frame - what to do? Take off! - says Irek. And he shot it in such a way that it is one of the best scenes in the film. What is important here is the inner attitude, the desire to get things done, despite the problems. It’s the same with “Crew”: the peak of the crisis, it’s difficult for the studio, the producers, and the group. But everyone worked hard for the end result - the painting.
Did you have to make compromises?
Nikolay Lebedev:
If, having conceded something, you gain overall, the compromise makes sense. In “Crew” we were filming a scene where a plane crashed into a building: everything was burning, exploding... We started filming - and suddenly there was a snowstorm, in October! Irek calmly said: so what, we will have ashes! And he set the light so that on the screen the snow looked like ash. There was a case when, due to inaccurate preparation, filming was delayed - and the next scene already had to be filmed, but it was pointless to start it without filming the previous one. And I suggested stopping filming and rehearsing this difficult scene again. And we rehearsed half the night without shooting a single frame, so the next morning the producers had to just shoot me. But when we were able to start filming the next scene, instead of three nights we filmed it in one. Because we spent time on more precise preparation, and in the end we calculated everything perfectly.
A thriller is a risky endeavor. Were there moments of real danger?
Nikolay Lebedev:
There were many such moments at Wolfhound. Fortunately, everyone survived, no one was hurt, but it was a good lesson, and on “Legend” and “Crew” we paid special attention to safety. Everything was calculated in advance, and no one broke anything, there were no injuries, despite the fact that the filming was difficult, and the actors performed many of the stunts themselves. Thus, Sergei Kempo in the role of flight attendant Andrey heroically jumped from one flaming minibus to another - no emergency situations happened.
Nikolai Lebedev’s film “Crew” collected 1.5 billion rubles in Russia alone in 2021
You are involved in three films about furries: “Kotovasia”, “Cats vs. Dogs” and “Revenge of the Furries”. Do you have a special relationship with the animal world?
Nikolay Lebedev:
I have a tiny dog, Sarah the Yorkshire terrier, and that’s all that connects me with the animal world. But she has so much love, such an open soul and such a big heart that I am amazed at how kinder and better animals are than people.
Personal life
Nikolai Lebedev is reluctant to advertise his personal life. The director's wife Irina is an economist by profession and also worked in the film industry. The couple has no children together; the wife has a daughter, Svetlana, from her first marriage.
Nikolai Lebedev and Alla Pugacheva
Nikolai Igorevich is an Instagram user, although he is not particularly active. Occasionally he pampers fans with photos from film sets and meetings with friends, including many actors and pop stars. The man knows Alla Pugacheva well; on Instagram there was a place for selfies taken in the company of the Diva.
Nikolay Lebedev now
The creator of the film hits “Legend No. 17” and “Crew” will try his hand at teaching in 2021. The director was invited to the Arka Higher Film School to supervise the acting and directing course. Lebedev will teach two dozen students the basics of filming, constructing scripts, and communicating with playwrights and the film crew.
In mid-March, film fans, as well as fans of the work of Mikhail Bulgakov, received news that filming of the novel “The Master and Margarita” would soon begin. The Cinema Fund hosted the defense of projects whose scripts have already been approved. Nikolai Lebedev is the sixth director who decided to display the imperishable work on film.
The man presented his own script, and Konstantin Ernst, Igor Tolstunov, Leonard Blavatik and Ruben Dishdishyan took on producing. Preliminary estimates of the film's budget are 800 million rubles. Casting has already begun and filming will begin soon. The premiere of “The Master and Margarita” through the eyes of Nikolai Lebedev is scheduled for 2021.
