April 4, 2019
He died in Moscow at the age of 88. George Danelia — the creator of immortal films.
Everything was born and will disappear. Humanity too. I can't figure out what age it's at now? Is it teenage stupidity or senile dementia?
Born on August 25, 1930, in Tbilisi, he grew up in Moscow. His father worked as a chief engineer at Metrostroy, and his mother was an assistant director at Mosfilm.
He was introduced to the world of cinema as a child, when he acted as an extra. However, after school, he studied architecture. He only enrolled in directing courses at age 26, after leaving the Institute of Urban Design.
Life isn't a script. You can't rewrite it. Too bad!
He became famous after his first film, "Seryozha." This poignant film about a 5-year-old boy won first prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Three years later, a new breakthrough: “I Walk Through Moscow” – one of the main cultural events of the “Khrushchev Thaw” era.
At the same time, the director coined a new genre: lyrical comedy. The term emerged during the film's submission to the artistic council, whose members couldn't figure out why the comedy wasn't making them laugh.
I've never made comedies. My films are labeled "comedy" because they were given more film stock for that.
Danelia's signature style is a combination of comedy and melodrama, along with an ability to bring out unexpected sides of popular actors.
Over the course of 60 years, he directed about 20 full-length films, including "Afonya," "Mimino," "Autumn Marathon," and "Kin-dza-dza!"
He remained in film until the age of 83. His last work was the animated adaptation of the film "Kin-dza-dza!"
Humanity never ceases to commit one stupidity after another. And in 50 years, "Kin-dza-dza!" will still be relevant. Because idiocy is eternal; it was born with man.
He spoke out in defense of persecuted actors and philanthropists. When asked about his attitude toward the military conflict between Georgia and Russia in 2008, he replied, "I'm sorry I lived to see this day."
He died in hospital without ever recovering from pneumonia.