Aleksandr Misharin

Aleksandr Nikolaevich Misharin , also known in English as Alexander Misharin (born 6 April 1939 — died 13 April 2008), was a Soviet - Russian screenwriter, playwright, novelist, actor and senior editor of Russian periodicals. An Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, he was a close friend of Andrei Tarkovsky with whom he wrote several screenplays, including Tarkovsky's celebrated masterpiece Mirror.

Biography Aleksandr Misharin was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR into a mixed Russian-German family. His father served in the military. In 1960 Misharin graduated from the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School, and in 1962 he finished the Advanced Course for Screenwriters and Film Directors at VGIK. He met Andrei Veytsler while studying at the Shchepkin's drama school. Also a descendant of a noble Russian-German family, Veytsler turned into his regular collaborator for many years. Together they wrote their first dramatic poem A Song of Wind (1959) for the Maly Theatre, as well as other plays such as Hamlet from the Flat № 13 (1961), Winter Ballad (1970), Livelong Day (1973), One Yard Chronicles (1978) and others. It was released shortly after Veytsler's sudden death in 1975. Misharin continued to work alone. His most successful solo play was Silver Wedding (1985) which was staged by Oleg Yefremov at the Moscow Art Theatre. The play gained enormous success at the time of release, and for many people it marked the beginning of new times, or perestroika. Tarkovsky would not be given permission to direct the screenplay until 1974. In the meantime he made the much acclaimed science fiction film Solaris that featured Misharin in the episodic role. Mirror was finally made in 1974, with Misharin playing another small part. It became the director's landmark work regularly listed among the greatest movies of world cinema. Tarkovsky and Misharin worked on several other screenplays, including Sardor (1978) and a biographical film about Fyodor Dostoyevsky, although most of them weren't screened for various reasons described in Tarkovsky's diaries.

Misharin was critical of his friend's decision to leave the country which he called a 'creative mistake' influenced by the overrated expectations of his second wife Larisa Tarkovskaya whom he described as mentally unstable and blamed for manipulating her husband. According to Misharin, Tarkovsky actually planned a divorce shortly before the emigration happened, but Larisa convinced him not only to stay with her, but also to stay in Europe.

A member of the Union of Soviet Writers since 1967. As a writer he published several novels, including Ruined City Guide (the 1960s), Career (1989), White, White Day (2003) and The Voice (2005). In 1990 he was appointed as a chief editor of the Sunday magazine, and in 1991 he headed the New Russia magazine (formerly known as Sovetsky Soyuz, closed in just a year).

Filmography Writer Year Title Original title Notes 1966 Grey Illness Серая болезнь1970 Chermeni Чермен also known as Tsermen Winter Ballad Зимняя баллада TV play 1973 Nastenka Настенька short 1975 Mirror Зеркало also actor (doctor) 1976 My Business Моё дело 1977 Mustached Nanny Усатый нянь 1978Sardor Сардор 1980 Horses Aren't Changed at the Crossing Коней на переправе не меняют 1981 February Wind Февральский ветер 1983 Towards His Own Kind К своим! Five Conversations with the Son Пять разговоров с сыном TV play 1986 Equals Four Frances Равняется четырём Франциям TV play 1988 Due to the Change of Job В связи с переходом на другую работу

Actor Year Title Original title Role Notes 1972 Solaris Солярис Shanakhan, predsedatel komissii Anri Bertona 1975 Mirror Зеркало Doctor Uncredited, (final film role)