«The Fountain»
In 1987, Yuri Mamin started shooting of his famous film «The Fountain» based on
the screenplay by Vladimir Vardunas. Together they built a multi-apartment
house for the film, which served as a model of Russian society during the era
of «perestroika». At the same time, the film authentically reproduces, in great
detail, the life and environment of Russians with all its absurdities and
horrors, presented in the genre of satirical comedy.
The film «The Fountain» was a distinctive copy of Russian society from the late
80s. This explains why, in 1989, the U.S. Senate specifically requested a
showing of the film in order to understand modern Russian society.
In 1988 Yuri Mamin`s film «The Fountain» won at the First International Film
Festival in Odessa and by unanimous jury decision received the Gran-Prix and the
famous statue of «The Golden Duke». The jury consisted of satirist Mikhail
Zhvanetsky, journalist Vitaly Korotich, composer Nikita Bogoslovsky, artist
Ilya Glazunov, and was led by Eldar Ryazanov.
In 1989, Mamin received «Chaplin's Golden Cane» from the hands of Chaplin`s widow,
Oona Chaplin, at a festival in the Swiss town of Vevey in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great master.
Additionally, the film «The Fountain» has won about 20 major prizes at various
international film festivals, including a second Chaplin statuette in the town
of Gabrovo (Bulgaria).
The actors who created the movie «The Fountain» were the authentic and
brilliant ensemble of Viktor Mikhailov, Sergey Dreiden (Dontsov), Lyudmila
Samokhvalova, Zhanna Kerimtaeva and Nina Usatova who received the «Constellation» prize at the
eponymous Russian film-festival in 1989.
Interesting facts
Roza Sirota, the comrade-in arms of the celebrated theater director Georgy
Tovstonogov said, after watching the film «The Fountain» that such authenticity
and ease of existence of actors is rarely achieved in celebrated theater. She
was particularly shaken by a monologue performed by the character of a destitute
actress, played by Lyudmila Samokhvalova. The actress Samokhvalova, who is the wife
of Yuri Mamin, with the permission of the director and screen-writer, inserted
phrases that reflect her personal biography into the heroine`s monologue. Undoubtedly,
as a result of this, the monologue became more poignant.
The Kyrgyz actor Assankul Kuttubaev was a very stern man and the «star» of the
Kyrgyz national theater.
The Prologue was filmed in the Kara-Kum desert. The heat was incredible, and
the old Assankul demanded to be released from shooting. A dialogue ensued between the actor and
director Yuri Mamin:
«The soles of my shoes are melting!,» said the actor. «Not one experienced
Kazakh filmmaker would shoot in such heat!»
Mamin responded, «Firstly, I am not a Kazakh director. Secondly, I am
inexperienced; this is my first full-length film. Thirdly, look at the crew:
all of them are from Leningrad, from the north, and they are tolerating the heat
and work. And you are a local, this heat is nothing new for you. Deal with it.»
«I will not!», said Kuttubaev angrily.
«You will.», Mamin retorted. «Because without
a bus you cannot leave the shoot.»
With those words they parted. Mamin kept on filming, trying to finish all the
daytime shooting, as the next day the group was scheduled to fly to Leningrad. Then
time came to shoot the night scenes.
Kuttubaev was called to the set and did not come. Mamin went to call on the
artist himself, and he was sitting beside his yurt with an unapproachable look
and did not want to talk to him. The group watched the situation out of
curiousity. What was to be done? And then Mamin, gathered all of his internal
pride, got on his knees, and crawled on all fours to the old actor and bent to
the ground, kissing the toe of his boot. Kuttubaev was dumbfounded. The film`s
main boss was kissing his feet, in front of everyone`s eyes! The pride of the Eastern
artist was satisfied. After this gesture, he could not refuse. Without saying a
word, Assankul got up and went to the camera.
«Prepare for shooting!», commanded Mamin, and the Exodus scene, which became
the backdrop for the opening credits, was filmed.
Subsequently, the director recalled that such behavior, characteristic of the
medieval East, came involuntarily. It was just that the situation left him
without any choice: it was impossible to move on without this episode. It was
necessary for the film.
«At that time, I got on my knees not for Assankul, but for the film. In the
face of a film I`m always in this position. This is my Master. The hint came to
me, most likely, from my ancestors - the Tatars. You see, my grandfather, who
was purged by the authorities and died before my birth, was a Tartar, Dmitry
Dmitrievich Mamin. It is all thanks to
him!»