Aleksandr Artyomovich Adabashyan (; born August 10, 1945, MoscowAn Unfinished Piece for Aleksandr and Ekaterina at Kommersant, January 31, 1999 (in Russian)) is a Soviet and Russian film writer, artist, director and actor. His film career has spanned over 50 years, and he has been awarded Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1983) and Honored Artist of Russia (2016).Большая Российская энциклопедия: В 30 т. / Председатель науч.-ред. совета Ю. С. Осипов. Отв. ред С. Л. Кравец. Т. 1. А — Анкетирование. — М.: Большая Российская энциклопедия, 2005. — 766 с.: ил.: карт.President's decree from January 29, 2016 № 31 at the Official Internet Portal of Juridical Information (pravo.gov.ru)
Biography Born in Moscow into a russified Armenian family of Artyom Adabashyan, an official at the Ministry of Construction Industry, and Valentina Barkhudarova, a teacher of German language.Adabashyan, Aleksandr Artemovich at the Theater Encyclopedia (in Russian) According to Aleksandr, he was raised inside the Russian culture, he doesn't speak Armenian language and he visited Yerevan only twice in his life.Aleksandr Adabashyan: «Empires Crashed Because of the False Ideas about Freedom» interview by The Voice of Armenia, June 25, 2013 (in Russian) In 1962 he enrolled in the Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry, and in 1964 he went to serve in the army. In three years he returned and finished the art courses.
As a student he got acquainted with Nikita Mikhalkov and participated in his diploma film A Quite Day at the End of the War as a decorator. After that he turned into a regular Mikhalkov's collaborator, taking part in the majority of his movies as an art director, artist, screenwriter and actor (usually appearing in episodic roles). He also constantly worked with other film directors such as Georgiy Daneliya, Andrei Konchalovsky, Sergei Solovyov and Dunya Smirnova.
He directed two movies on his own: Mado, poste restante (which was nominated for the 1991 César Award as the best debut work) and Azazel mini-series, the first adaptation of Erast Fandorin's adventures. In addition, he made a career as a comedy actor, most famously portraying Barrymore in The Hound of the Baskervilles Soviet adaptation, also alongside Nikita Mikhalkov (who played Sir Henry Baskerville). Among his other notable roles is Timofeev in Five Evenings and Berlioz in The Master and Margarita.
Between 1997 and 1998 Adabashyan directed two operas: Boris Godunov for the Mariinsky Theatre and Khovanshchina for the La Scala opera house. He also worked as an interior designer in several Moscow restaurants.
Adabashyan has been married twice. His first wife was Marina Lebesheva, the sister of the acclaimed Russian cinematographer Pavel Lebeshev. His second wife is Ekaterina Shadrina, an assistant costume designer who also appeared in a small role in Mikhalkov's At Home Among Strangers. Together they have two daughters.
Awards 1978 — Laureate of the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR Kulyash Baiseitova 1983 — Honored Painter of the RSFSRИскусство кино 1990 — Youth Jury Prize International Film Festival Cinema Europe in Ravenna for the movie Mado, poste restante 1991 — Nominated for the César Award for best debut work (the movie Mado, poste restante) 1991 — Prize Flayyano Silver Pegasus (Italy for best foreign scenario) 1993 — Fellini Prize for Best European scenario 2006 — Award VII Russian Festival comedy Smile, Russia! for the contribution to comedy 2013 — Special Jury Prize Film Festival Window to Europe in Vyborg (the film Dog Heaven) 2014 — Nominees for the Golden Eagle Award for Best Script (the film Dog Heaven)
Selected filmography
Year Title Role Screenwriter Artist Director 1970 A Calm Day at the End of the War 1974 At Home Among Strangers Brylov's messenger / nobleman 1975 A Slave of Love film director 1977 An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano 1978 Siberiade dealer Five Evenings Timofeev 1979 A Few Days from the Life of I.I. Oblomov episode (uncredited) 1981 Family Relations Sanya the waiter / glazier The Hound of the Baskervilles Barrymore 1982 Flights in Dreams and Reality sculpture 1983 Without Witness 1986 Guard Me, My Talisman Monsieur Dardye 1987 Dark Eyes medical staff (uncredited) 1990 Mado, poste restante 1993 Nastya official 1994 Like Two Crocodiles 2002 Azazel episode (uncredited) 2004 Fort Boyard (Russia) Fouras 2005 The Master and Margarita Berlioz 2007 12 bailiff 2008 The Ghost Alexandr the editor Plus One a man by the stall Fathers and Sons 2010 Burnt by the Sun 2 Igor the official 2013 Ku! Kin-dza-dza Abradox (voice) Sherlock Holmes editor Pyotr Leschenko. Everything That Was... Paul 2014 Sunstroke cameraman 2016 The Heritage of Love Lev Chizh Once Upon a Time There Were We Danila
References
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