There are people who represent an entire era. These are people who achieve truly outstanding success in their professional field, and the results of such work become national and state property. Yes, yes, Russia has national treasures, thank God, not only a gas production company … The main asset is people capable of constant creation, and creation exclusively for the benefit of the country and its citizens. One of these people was a brilliant director, a real maestro of cinema, Eldar Alexandrovich Ryazanov.
To use the word "was" in relation to this person, frankly, is very difficult, because it seemed that this person would always be with us. In principle, this is how it is, because he leaves not only the people of Russia, but indeed all of humanity, the richest legacy of kindness, warmth of human relations, overcoming adversity - everything that is in his stunning paintings.
Eldar Alexandrovich died on the night of Monday November 30 in a Moscow clinic from acute pulmonary and heart failure at the age of 88. On November 29, doctors connected the patient to a ventilator due to a sharp deterioration in his health. At about midnight (Moscow time), Eldar Ryazanov passed away.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the widow of an outstanding film director, People's Artist of the USSR, Emma Abaidullina (quotes the Kremlin's website):
Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov, a man of great, generous talent and enormous creative energy, was gone. His wonderful films have become true classics of Russian cinema and our national heritage, a part of the country's history.
We will forever preserve the bright memory of Eldar Alexandrovich Ryazanov - a true master and creator.
It's hard to imagine, but this will be the first meeting of the New Year in Russia with "Irony of Fate" and "Carnival Night" without their creator. It is difficult to imagine that a person has left, on whose films several generations of citizens of the USSR and those states that, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, were formed on this huge ethnocultural space, grew up. Films by Eldar Ryazanov are beyond time, they are above any political, ideological, religious and other preferences. This is what is really capable of uniting, and therefore such films are rightfully included in the golden collection of Russian cinema.
Voennoe Obozreniye publishes a lot of articles about outstanding domestic designers, gunsmiths, spacecraft developers, people in uniform who gave their lives to serve the Motherland. Yes, Eldar Ryazanov is not a designer, not a military engineer, he did not wear uniforms, did not command a battalion or regiment, but his work as a scriptwriter and director, in its creative power, is a precious fund that contributes to the moral potential of Russia. You can listen to a hundred statements by a hundred officials about how we all need to take care of morality and ethics in the country, or you can simply take and review one of Eldar Alexandrovich's films. Moreover, I think, in the second case, the result will be much more effective …
Eldar Ryazanov's hometown is Samara, where he was born on November 18, 1927. Eldar Ryazanov's father is Alexander Semyonovich, during the Civil War he was a division commander, and then a representative of the USSR diplomatic mission in Tehran. Mother - Sofya Mikhailovna, who, after the family moved to Moscow and divorced her husband, remarried. From about three years old, the boy was raised by his mother and stepfather, who, as Eldar Alexandrovich himself said, accepted him as his own son.
Carried away by adventure literature, young Eldar began to dream of serving in the navy, and after graduating from school he sent a letter asking him to consider his documents for admission to the Odessa Naval School.
However, fate decreed otherwise, and Eldar Ryazanov, without waiting for an answer from Odessa, on the advice of a friend, decided to apply to the directing department of VGIK. The talented boy at the university was immediately noted. Sergei Eisenstein himself allowed Ryazanov to use his personal library. It would seem that after such an acquaintance to Ryazanov, Providence itself simply says that his path is artistic pathos based on historical events. But, as we all know perfectly well, the talent of Eldar Alexandrovich developed in a completely different cinematic direction. This direction is lyrical and, as cinema professionals say, eccentric and everyday comedies.
Comedy lyrics by Eldar Ryazanov: "A girl without an address", "Irony of fate", everyday comedy - as an example, "Give a book of complaints", comedy eccentric - "The Adventures of Italians in Russia." And there are dozens of films loved by millions: "Station for Two", "Hussar Ballad", "Garage", "Cruel Romance", "Beware of the Car", etc.
A talented person is talented in everything. This wisdom finds its confirmation in the work of Eldar Ryazanov. He also created a whole series of remarkable documentary works, which includes such of his works as "They study in Moscow" (the first creative work of Eldar Alexandrovich), "Four meetings with Vladimir Vysotsky", "Sakhalin Island", "A day in the president's family."
His lyrics have been used to write songs and romances for numerous films. Eldar Aleksandrovich also acted as a TV presenter - in particular, the host of the television program "Kinopanorama", "Eight girls, one me", "Indian Summer" and others.
Eldar Ryazanov is a classic who was our contemporary.
I would like to hope that the legacy of this wonderful director, screenwriter and just a person will become one of the foundations so that our land does not dry out with talents, although the appearance of a figure similar in skill level to Eldar Alexandrovich, I think, will have to wait a long time.
P. S. Farewell to Eldar Ryazanov will be held on December 3 in Moscow. According to some reports, a sculpture will be installed in the Mosfilm area in memory of the outstanding director.
