Art of all times has required sacrifices from creators. Karen Shakhnazarov’s new film “Khitrovka. The Sign of Four” clearly shows what the actor is ready to do to get into the character, for the most organic existence in the role. Spoiler alert – even briefly becoming Sherlock Holmes.
1902, Moscow. The Moscow Art Theater is preparing the premiere of a performance based on M. Gorky’s play “Down”. The young Konstantin Stanislavsky (Konstantin Kryukov) will take the stage as Satin. But how can a smart man get used to the image of an outcast? The future theater reformer turns to journalist Vladimir Gilyarovsky (Mikhail Porechenkov) for help – he organizes a “tour” for Stanislavsky around Khitrovka – the capital’s most famous spot…
From the movie “Khitrovka. The sign of four”
Image source: Mosfilm Cinema Concern
At first, Konstantin Sergeevich refers to staying in dark alleys and in a rooming house for outcasts as a fun adventure. And even manages to fall in love (at first sight) with a woman who grew up in Khitrovka. They are creative, impulsive people…
Stanislavsky in this film turned out to be touching, even too touching. He idealizes the world and the people around him, he sincerely believes that “man – it sounds proud!”… Therefore, the resident of the Princess rooming house (Anfisa Chernykh) does not hide the irony towards him. She was orphaned early, lived in an atmosphere of drunkenness and debauchery, from an early age she took care of herself. She knows that no one is perfect, she knows the price of everything. Among the crowd of regulars in the institution, this spectacular person stands out not only with her bright appearance, but also with the sad, piercing gaze of an adult, cynical woman.
From the movie “Khitrovka. The sign of four”
Image source: Mosfilm Cinema Concern
Gilyarovsky observes with detachment (because he is extremely delicate) how Stanislavsky is tormented by unrequited feelings. He has known the princess since childhood, for her he is simply “Uncle Gilyai”. Unfortunately, the character of the hero M. Porechenkov is not fully revealed (although he is almost constantly in the frame), in the film he performs the function of the “shadow” of Stanislavsky.
But Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (Alexander Oleshko) turned out to be very colorful, solid, despite the fact that there are not many scenes attributed to him. This character is not characterized by restlessness and impulsiveness, it is logical and consistent. It would be interesting to see him on Khitrovka, studying an unusual way of life for smart people.
The story of A. Conan Doyle “The Sign of Four” is imperceptibly woven into the plot, giving it a certain dynamic. Killed by the mysterious Indian dwarf Raja (and the murder weapon is a dart dipped in poison), an Englishman with him everywhere (Aleksey Vertkov) and a gold necklace with huge emeralds – all this makes Stanislavsky and Gilyarovsky change their unhurried excursion stage into a race, allowing them to overtake unbridled strangers .. .
… This is largely facilitated by the profession of Konstantin Stanislavsky. The most important traits for an actor and a director are attentiveness and the ability to observe. He owns them all, it is he who notices the little things that point to the traces of the criminals, invisible to the trained eye of the policeman Rudnikov (Evgeny Stychkin).
From the movie “Khitrovka. The sign of four”
Image source: Mosfilm Cinema Concern
In the finale, it becomes clear that it was not for nothing that Konstantin Sergeevich put himself in danger, plunging into the lives of the inhabitants of Khitrovka. Now he reads the monologue of the sinner Sateen differently, but very directly. Without much expression, he says: “Dude – that looks proud!”, And the audience in the hall applauds – they believe.
He, a lover of the theater and – for the moment – of the whole world, wants to say: “I believe!”. He is still young, and therefore sincere, passionate, romantic. In a fit of feelings, he confesses his love to the princess, who also came to the premiere. But she mockingly refuses the young actor. They are different. Like from different planets…
Or perhaps, by responding to the love of this ardent young man, would she have gained a chance to be part of another world to which she belongs? A civilized world where people work and don’t fly, where they speak French and play music at night… But she doesn’t need it. The fatal beauty literally throws this chance into the river, invested in her palm by fate itself.
From the movie “Khitrovka. The sign of four”
Image source: Mosfilm Cinema Concern
Everyone creates their own destiny. It seems that the princess was absolutely in solidarity with Satin-Stanislavsky, who watched her lovingly from the stage.
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