ARSPRO
As you know, the best audience rise to strong emotions. “Heart rate” offered to experienced consultants a mass electorate, it worked.
The inclination of the heart of the Russian audience the filmmakers are exploring for two decades, and while we can say only one thing: the audience attracted to strong men with children full lips, broad-shouldered and strong, kind but tough, terse but gentle, preferably with a weapon in the right hands.
They appear out of nowhere, but in time, save the world, the spectator and sometimes the cashier. Older brothers, tough guys who choose war, not peace.
Hero is able to Express time, to embody the aspirations of the people, really want to create all of the film companies-leaders of the state have received large budgets to create a new Russian myth. Looking for it in the distant past and the fantastic future, in Soviet mythology and pre-revolutionary history, the military and among students. “Looking for a long time, But I can’t find some Guy in his twenties.”
This was Danila Bagrov, the only real love Russian mass audience, and since then have tried to be all cinematic heroes: the guys from “9th company” of a novel, Wolfhound from the same movie, Fandorin, “the Turkish gambit”, even hockey player Kharlamov performed by Danila Kozlovsky.
Avenger Peter Fedorov from the “Duelist” in this series as if it fitted perfectly.
When the producer chooses a story for a future blockbuster (the movie that had the potential to collect more cash), it’s really many risks, even if the money for the most part of the state. So try to guess to find the right course, to choose what will work for sure. And although the mystery of the movie lies in the fact that nothing guarantees success, all the same really want podstelit straw, using the fact that the audience liked it last time, and adding to that a new fraction, not too big (it is known that the viewer does not like new) but not too small (because the viewer quickly gets bored).
“Duelist” was presented to the audience as “completely audience-oriented film, dramatic, exciting and thrilling story with an unexpected and strong character”, but it is predictable not interested in mass Russian audience, which is not that adopted, and did not go to watch. The topic is not liked. But more selective audience, as you might expect, this offer intrigued, the film is discussed, and opinions were far apart.
Choosing between the evil committed, as enshrined in the graph Beklemishevi (Vladimir Mashkov), and situational evil, the audience is unable to lean on anyone’s side.
One sees in the film is the apotheosis of violence, cruel world, hosted by “concepts”, where always the strongest wins, and for others, “this is totally anti-Putin movie. Antiregime even”. But the audience is not ready to recognize in the main character in “Duelist” — present, acting on it, the viewer, the name of the Hero with which to associate their hopes. Someone sees Yakovlev killer, someone is a victim, someone romantic Demon, but for someone it is clear that “the guy was just confused… Killed five, but in the soul, it is good”, but no one is willing to identify with this character, although seemingly met all the conditions: this man unjustly wronged, he has subaramaniam (shoots without a miss), he’s handsome and brave and he’s a “good” person. But not a Hero.
The fact is that “Duelist” — not popular films, this film is copyright, and here’s why. Director Mizgirev deliberately breaks all the rules designed to strengthen the viewer in the love of the hero. From the beginning Yakovlev presented as a man unsympathetic, cold killer, and only then, very gradually, to the audience to explain that he is not so guilty, “we are not poor, life is”… To justify the main character of the film shows the horror and depravity of the world, literally mired in the mud.
Hero you bad? And all the other much worse, nothing of value, beauty is deceiving, luxury humiliated, and the aristocracy from the inside looks disgusting.
But gradually restoring the reputation of Yakovlev, the Director does not consider one very important thing: motivation of the hero do not coincide with the internal attitude of the viewer. Because what does a duelist Yakovlev? He wants justice, he must punish the offender, to restore his honor. But the honor for bread will not smear, and choosing between honor and cruelty, the audience seems ready to give up on both your houses too, all you have is confusing. The real hero of Russia must protect something clean, something common to all: friends, family, home. Then he is ready to sympathize with the mass audience.
Not honor, but the world it needs to restore, Maverick cursed.
Among the films, which became successful at the box office over the past decade, was the hero of an entirely different, not the main we type. In two “Patrols”, Night and Day, he was played by Konstantin Khabensky. Anton Gorodetsky-a-kind, of course, a superhero, but he, like Harry Potter, not macho, not a shooter, not a killer and not a warrior. He is intelligent, smart, complex, not predictable, not impeccable — overall, a very recognizable and understandable. His superpowers do not change his human nature, he’s just trying to do their job.
It is interesting that now, the screens out the new film by Konstantin Khabensky. This low-budget “Collector”, filmed over seven days almost one camera antiblocker where in the frame, except for Knightley, no one appears. Minimalist by means of the film however is very favorable reaction. People forgive the imperfection of the plot, numerous conventions, exaggeration and figurative poverty. But in this painting, created generally without any state support, on the personal initiative of the Director and producer Alexey Krasovsky, is a relevant topic, friendly character and a very clear motive. Although, in General, the film is also about revenge, and the main character from the beginning is also shown as a bad person.
The success of this modest film (and it was very well received at many festivals, and the rental for this kind of movie had decent time to copy, that is, it is noticed, unlike many others) is provided primarily by part Khabensky. This remarkable artist, as in the film “the Geographer globe propyl”, immediately denotes a recognizable and understandable type of person: infantile and weak, but deep down kind and humane. This is a set of masculinity we have honored since Zhenya Lukashin from “twist of fate”.
Only bad thing is that fans of such movies rarely go to the cinema.
The majority of moviegoers still need a story “a real hero”, a man with a gun and without reflections. Rifles and handguns “Duelist” was a real antique, found at the auctions in Europe. But it was too difficult for a mass audience, it would be something simpler — with a cart and a machine gun “Maxim”.
