Aleksandr Zavyalov

Our Dad Mayonnaise

The boy writes an essay at school in which he wants to be like his father - with mayonnaise, i.e. "MNS" (junior research fellow).

Крот

Sancho From the Ranch

The parody series "Sancho from the Ranch" was part of the St. Petersburg television program "Chameleon", curated by the famous director Yuri Mamin. The idea of this parody was that the supposedly Mexican TV series "Sancho from the Ranch" was seen by viewers in two guises at once: on the screen and behind the screen. On the screen there are heartbreaking incidents in sunny Mexico, and off the screen an ordinary Russian family is watching them with excitement – grandmother and grandfather, father and mother, daughter and son. The trick is that they also appear in exotic Mexican roles, and seem to be watching themselves.

Empire is Under Attack

In this TV-series the events of the beginning of the 20th century in Russia are highlighted. Revolutioners, terrorists, spies - and investigator Putilovskii and his team fight them as best they can.

The Cold Summer of 1953

In 1953, the year Stalin died, many prisoners (some political, but mostly common criminals) were released from the Soviet Gulags. This is the story of a remote settlement which was under attack by a bunch of these recently-released blood-thirsty thugs in the summer of 1953, and the townspeople, along with a two political prisoners, who try to stop them.

The Tolstoy Defence

The shrill and tragic story about an event that involved Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. In an infantry regiment of the military based in the Tula region an offence occurs. In this regiment, the capital’s lieutenant Grigory Kolokoltsev — inspired by progressive ideas — does his service. A military tribunal and execution await the soldier charged with the offence. Kolokoltsev asks Count Tolstoy for help — and he decides to protect the innocent man. The pointed history about the complexity of choice and fidelity to one’s ideals is based on real events.

White Lilacs

From his childhood in Russia to his last days in California, the tumultuous ininerary and bathed in melancholy of the legendary pianist and composer Serguei Rachmaninov. This film is based on the legend that Rachmaninoff received a bouquet of lilacs from an unknown admirer after every performance. He emigrated to the United States, and after an interval, began to receive the mysterious lilacs again.

Peculiarities of the National Hunt

A Finn preparing a work on the Russian hunting traditions and customs, comes to Russia to collect materials and is invited to take part in a hunting party. His flamboyant companions include an Army general, with more than a passing resemblance to Aleksander Lebed, a police detective, local forest ranger (a devotee of Zen Buddhism) and some big-city types from St. Petersburg. Inevitably, their good intentions soon give way to endless drinking, visits to local farm girls and much else besides.

The Life of Klim Samgin

The life of the intellectual Samgin, depicted against the backdrop of the grand panorama of Russian life from 1877 to 1917.

Peculiarities of the National Fishing

General Ivolgin, forester Kuzmich, and good-natured Lyova lose their way on a fishing trip and wind up in a neighboring country, where they decide to have a good time anyway but end up leaving their vodka and fishing equipment behind.