Dmitry Meskhiev: director, producer and actor

Biography

Dmitry Meskhiev was born into the family of cinematographer Dmitry Meskhiev Sr. His mother is also a famous cameraman Natalya Troshchenko. His parents wanted their son to follow in their footsteps, but Dmitry chose a different path to cinema. Since 1980, he worked at the Lenfilm film studio as an assistant director, and in 1988 he graduated from the directing department of VGIK, where his mentor was Marlen Khutsiev.

Dmitry Meskhiev: I didn’t beat my wife myself

A "VP" correspondent attended the premiere of the film "Battalion"

If the film “Battalion” was an undeniable... gilly, a government-ruling scoundrel, it would be much easier to write about it. This is what happened recently with Fyodor Bondarchuk’s “Stalingrad”: she died like that. You criticize the flabby plot, the mediocre acting and the lovingly glamorously polished “war” scenes (just remember the burning infantrymen going on the attack) - and everything, in general, is clear, because nothing rises above the bar. But, strangely enough, this doesn’t work. And the best mainstream turns out to be not the one that obediently follows the demands of the situation, but the one that dares to somehow jump out “beyond the flags.”

In “Battalion” Fyodor Bondarchuk was a producer. The director was Dmitry Meskhiev, uneven and, in any case, talented. That’s why the film came out “not lukewarm.” And that is why it creates a feeling of just a strong mainstream “Hollywood style” - it combines creative courage and skillful use of craft canons in proper proportion.

Maria Aronova and Dmitry Meskhiev

The story of Maria Bochkareva (excellent role by actress Maria Aronova), a Knight of St. George, the organizer of the women’s “death battalion” in 1917, who went to the front of the First World War to inspire disappointed soldiers, does not look like a boring undertaking, and this in itself is an extraordinary achievement for ours, with let me say, great cinema.

Not a woman's face

“It was very difficult to film,” actress Valeria Shkirando, who played one of the main roles, told us before the premiere. “It’s hard to run along the sand, along a slope in full soldier’s gear. It’s difficult to shoot - I shot from Maxim’s machine gun, handed the machine gun belt with my weak little white hands, everything was tattered and bloody. The terrible sound of exploding shells. We couldn’t put earplugs in...

This dirty trench truth really is here and it works better than the fantasy-dizzying battle scenes drawn using computer graphics.

— If we make a movie about war, then it’s about war. And war, as we know, does not have a woman’s face. And the viewer will believe it only if it looks like the truth,” Dmitry Meskhiev told us.

Indeed, it seems. You can see the cold and dampness, and the fact that the trenches were built according to the plans of that time (of which the creators are especially proud); and even the fact that it is not two armies meeting in an epic battle, but a hundred frightened girls trying to overcome their fear of huge men in German uniforms. They die one after another, and the survivors do not know what awaits them tomorrow. Any murder caught on camera is scary and disgusting, and not worthy of pride; the camera does not savor the false heroism of war.

This is not Brecht, not an anti-war film, but it is at least a more or less honest war film, and at least for that we thank him. However, Dmitry Meskhiev proved his ability to talk about war with his successful 2004 film “Ours.”

If it weren’t for the terrible symphonic, tearful and sentimental music, the real scourge of our cinema - from the festival “Leviathan” to the mass “Battalion”... But this is not the main problem of the film. The trouble is that, being a war film, “Battalion” does not become a truly historical film - as, for example, the film “Once Upon a Time There Was a Woman” by Andrei Smirnov, another film about the fate of women in Russia in the 1910s, became it.

Real historical cinema is precisely what is sorely lacking, and it is lacking even more so the more history is replaced by ideology in our country.

They have the wrong truth

It is symbolic that the official title of the film is “Battalion” - with the letter “er” at the end. “This is just writing ‘for style’, I would say,” the director explained this choice. “With this solid sign, the time is immediately clear.” This attitude to history seems somewhat naive - just as store signs now write “er” or “yat”, and they are regularly confused - if they want to create a vague impression of imperial antiquity. However, at the press conference, Dmitry Meskhiev completely crossed out all the arguments, saying that “he was making a film about love for the Motherland. We need to protect it, love our country.”

But there is no detailed film reflection about what happened a hundred years ago, what kind of Motherland Maria Bochkareva defended (no longer the Russian Empire? Not yet the Soviet Union?) - this is not in the film. There are caricatured revolutionary sailors, there are demoralized men-soldiers with red bows, who at first do not follow Bochkareva, but then are nevertheless imbued with her just cause and help. Meskhiev explained their motivation:

— When a soldier says to the officer, Dyatlov’s hero: “Our women are sitting at home, waiting for us,” he is sincere. This is the iron logic of the peasant. “There is my land, my family. This is my homeland." But a more global, holistic understanding - we need to come to it. I tried to show that they had their own truth. She's wrong. But my own.

“The Wrong Truth” is not a very satisfactory commentary on the era when the fate of these peasants, their families, and their land was being decided. Less than a year later (the film takes place in the summer of 1917), these same characters will choose another, new country for themselves. And Maria Bochkareva, by the way, will go to the USA and turn to President Wilson with a request for intervention against the Bolsheviks. That is, in life everything will turn out to be a little more complicated than patriotic schemes.

- You touch on such a complex topic... We would need to sit down and talk about it for an hour. It's very ambiguous here. On the one hand, we understand Bochkareva’s impulse. On the other hand, well, it’s impossible. But how is it possible? That’s a big question,” Dmitry Meskhiev answered me. - You see, we made a picture about a specific battle. If it were ZhZL, then it would be necessary to show both the trip to America, and the return, and her tragic death.

But it seems that not only dramatic requirements were at work here, but also the reluctance of the authors to get involved with such an ambiguous story. Or maybe just such a film, truly showing different people with different positions, even internally contradictory ones, would be needed right now, in a new era of strife within and around Russian society.

To hit or not to hit?

What’s also interesting is that this is a rare movie almost exclusively about women. About how, in such a tragic situation, women took matters into their own hands and proved that, whether in peace or war, they can cope no worse than men. About the fact that the traditional peasant family was being destroyed, and women had just, in the spring of 1917, received the right to vote, and then, under the Bolsheviks, they were recognized as legally equal to men.

But it seems that the creators of “Battalion” themselves did not grasp this issue, which is still relevant today.

— I am for equal rights for women and men. But this is a utopia in our country,” Fyodor Bondarchuk told us. - When this happens sometimes, it is rather an exception. And I would not say that it is normal that women went to war. This is contrary to human nature. A woman must give birth. Although the fact that in this particular case they gave their life and soul for the good of the Fatherland is clear to me, and I internally share it.

The historical Maria Bochkareva left her husband. But Dmitry Meskhiev, in one of the scenes of his film, brings them together at the front. The husband beats his “walking wife” to death. Fellow soldiers stand and watch, not intending to interfere.

“About beatings and domestic violence - this, you know, is such a subtle and deep question,” Dmitry Meskhiev commented on this scene. “I don’t know if it was possible to show it, but she and her husband love each other despite all this.” He beats her and loves her. This, unfortunately, happens. And the rest stand around and don’t interfere, because this is his family and he understands it himself. Such were the customs. And, probably, morals are still the same today, because the life of every family is a special story. Something similar could happen now.

- And what, in your opinion, is there no need to interfere now? - Well, it’s difficult for me to answer. I didn't beat my wife myself. But... - And then the director was distracted by other questions.

Author: Dubshan Fedor Photo: Natalya Chaika, provided by the event organizers Tags: Cinema hall First-hand

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Director

His first film was the full-length film “Gambrinus” based on the story of the same name by Kuprin, and this debut turned out to be very successful. This was in 1990. The script for the film was written by Valery Todorovsky.

In 1991, the director, based on the novel by Anatoly Mariengof, made the film “Cynics” based on his script, inviting Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Irina Rozanova, Andrei Ilyin, and Viktor Pavlov to play the main roles.

The audience's interest was attracted by Dmitry Meskhiev's drama "Over Dark Water", released in 1993, with the participation of Alexander Abdulov, Ksenia Kachalina, Yuri Kuznetsov.

In 1997, Dmitry Meskhiev directed the erotic film “Bomb,” and in 1998, the dramatic film “American.” Particularly worth noting is Meskhiev’s participation in the creation of the film anthology “The Arrival of a Train,” which became a kind of manifesto for young directors.

Meskhiev's directorial track record also includes the following films: "Kamikaze Diary", "Women's Property", "Mechanical Suite" and TV series: "Breathe with Me", "Lines of Fate".

In February 2020, the Russian premiere of the military drama “Battalion” took place, produced by , and directed by Dmitry Meskhiev. The main roles in “Battalion” were played by Maria Aronova, Maria Kozhevnikova, Irina Rakhmanova and Marat Basharov.

In an interview, Dmitry Meskhiev said that the idea of ​​the film belonged to producer Igor Ugolnikov. This film tells about the feat of the women's detachment under the command of Maria Bochkareva, created in Petrograd by order of the Provisional Government in 1917 to raise the morale of the army. “In general, this is an amazing and unique phenomenon both in Russia and in world history. The creation in those years of a certain women's special forces. Moreover, they were not particularly trained, not like our special forces, which is why almost half of the battalion died in the first battle. In general, there are many surprising things in the history of the battalion. For example, history is silent, but they guarded the Winter Palace during the October Revolution and they, in fact, surrendered it, leaving there. Therefore, in Soviet times, no one said anything about this battalion at all. All the women in it were volunteers, from princesses to peasant women,” says Dmitry.

To date, the Battalion's prize fund includes more than 30 Russian and foreign awards. According to Mr. Ugolnikov, the film “Battalion” is “a kind of ambassador of peace.” “After all, one of the main messages of our film is that women and war are incompatible,” he noted.

In addition, Dmitry Meskhiev shoots videos and commercials, and was also the director and stage director of Sergei Kuryokhin’s concerts.

Movies

Dmitry Dmitrievich's directorial debut took place in 1990 in the film “Gambrinus” based on the story of the same name by Alexander Kuprin. Valery Todorovsky worked on the script part. The film stars Nina Ruslanova, Irina Rozanova, Viktor Pavlov, Lev Borisov and other actors.

Nina Ruslanova in Dmitry Meskhiev’s film “Gambrinus”

A year later, Meskhiev began filming the film “Cynics” based on the novel by Anatoly Mariengof. In 1993, the drama “Over Dark Water” appeared, which viewers remembered for the bright performances of Alexander Abdulov, Ksenia Kachalina and Yuri Kuznetsov. In 1997, Dmitry tries to experiment. The director is making an erotic film "Bomb". Next year he begins filming the mystical film “American” based on the story by Yuri Korotkov.

Meskhiev Jr. did not give himself a single year to rest. Every year, good films with a strong plot are made that touch the soul and attract the attention of viewers. His filmography includes “Women’s Property,” “Kamikaze Diary,” “Mechanical Suite,” the TV series “Breathe with Me” and “Lines of Fate.”

Dmitry Meskhiev on the set of the film “Ours”

In 2004, the film “Ours” was released. A brilliant cast - Konstantin Khabensky, Bogdan Stupka, Sergei Garmash, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Mikhail Evlanov and others - created an emotional story about despair and betrayal, about the struggle for life and faith in goodness. In the same year, “Ours” won the main prize at the Moscow International Film Festival, becoming winners in 5 categories. The film also won the Nika, Golden Eagle and Golden Aries awards.

Separately, we can highlight the film “Battalion”, which premiered in Russian box office in 2020. The main roles in it were played by such movie stars as Marat Basharov, Maria Aronova, Irina Rakhmanova and others.

Film by Dmitry Meskhiev “Battalion”

The film tells the dramatic story of a women's unit created in 1917 by the Provisional Government to raise morale in the Russian army. Women came as volunteers and belonged to different class classes: from peasants to princesses. Half the battalion dies in the first battle.

Dmitriev Meskhiev admits that the work on the film was custom-made and the cast was approved by the project producer Igor Ugolnikov. “Battalion” turned out to be ambiguous. There was a lot of criticism directed at the creators, and at the same time the film won more than 30 Russian and foreign awards.

Meskhiev Jr. called the work on the series “The Wall,” the screenwriter of which was the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky, a creative failure. According to the director, the desired result did not work out due to the complexity of the script.

“Let’s just say, I simply couldn’t cope with Medinsky’s literature, with his 600-page work,” Meskhiev explained.

Sergey Garmash and Maria Skuratova in the film “Two Tickets Home”
In October 2020, the premiere of the film “Two Tickets Home” took place. Dmitry Meskhiev acted in this film not only as a director and producer, but also as a screenwriter. This is a joint work with Sergei Garmash, whom Meskhiev considers to be a close and dear friend.

The film talks about the relationship between parents and children and belongs to the genre of melodrama. Starring Maria Skuratova, Sergei Garmash, Irina Rakhmanova, Irina Rozanova and others.

Producer

In 2001, he created a film production company, which was engaged in the production and production of films and television films. As a producer, he collaborated with Valery Todorovsky, Vadim Goryainov, Ruben Dishdishyan and other famous directors. During its existence, the company has released more than ten films, including the action films “Street Racers,” “The Big Walk,” and “The Betrothed.”

In 2008, Meskhiev was invited to the position of director of the St. Petersburg branch of the RVS film studio. During his work, he brought the studio to a working and then to a competitive level.

Since 2010 he has been the Chief Film Producer. During 2010-2011, more than 800 hours of film and television production were produced under the production of Dmitry Meskhiev. The studio is one of the three leading film production companies in the country.

In 2012, he created Kino, which produces film and television projects.

On December 6, 2014, the governor of the Pskov region, Andrei Turchak, announced that Dmitry Meskhiev headed the theater and concert association of the Pskov region, which included two theaters, a philharmonic society and a folk art center.

Meskhiev, Dmitry Dmitrievich

Dmitry Meskhiev was born on October 31, 1963 in Leningrad, his father is cinematographer Dmitry Meskhiev Sr., his mother is director of the Lenfilm film studio Natalya Troshchenko (“About Those I Remember and Love,” “Everyone Knows Kadkin,” “Pani Maria,” “The Long the road to yourself”, “Those who descended from heaven” and others [2]).

Since April 1981, he worked at the Lenfilm film studio as a film equipment mechanic. In this capacity he worked on such films as: “The Voice”, “Niccolò Paganini”, “The Secret of the Blue Mountains”, “Men Wanted”.

From 1983 to 1988 he studied and graduated from the directing department of VGIK (workshop of M. Khutsiev). During his student years, he starred in a cameo role in the film “Sentimental Journey to Potatoes” by Dmitry Dolinin.

In 1989 he made his debut film “Gambrinus” at the Odessa Film Studio.

From 1990 to 2001 - production director at the Lenfilm film studio.

From 2001 to 2008 - film producer: over the years, more than 10 films have been released, awarded prizes at various international and Russian film festivals.

From 2008 to 2010 - director of the St. Petersburg cinema branch.

From 2010 to December 2011 - Chief film producer. During its work, more than 800 hours of film and television production were produced. The studio is one of the three leading film production companies in the country. As the Chief Producer, Dmitry Meskhiev has produced more than thirty television and feature films.

From December 2011 to August 2012 - Chairman of the Committee on Culture of the Government of St. Petersburg. Resigned from the post of Chairman of the Committee of his own free will. During his work, he implemented many large cultural projects. He considered the main task of the Culture Committee to be the initiation and holding of cultural events in St. Petersburg, developing and confirming the status of the cultural capital of Russia.

In 2012, he created Kino, which produces film and television projects. From 2012 to 2014, along with others, she produced and produced the film “Battalion”, directed by Dmitry Meskhiev.

On March 11, 2014, he signed an appeal from cultural figures of the Russian Federation in support of the policies of Russian President V.V. Putin in Ukraine and Crimea[3].

From 2020 to the present - General Director of the State Autonomous Institution of Culture of the Pskov Region "Theater and Concert Directorate"[4]. The Directorate is responsible for: Pskov Academic Drama Theater named after. A. S. Pushkin, Pskov Regional Philharmonic, Pskov Regional Puppet Theater, Tourist Information Center and other cultural institutions. Advisor to the Governor of the Pskov Region on issues of culture and art.

Official

In 2011, Dmitry Meskhiev was invited to the position of Chairman of the Culture Committee. During his work, he initiated a large number of different projects, including the creation of the St. Petersburg International Film Forum in a new format, holding major film festivals such as: “Message to Man”, “Beginning”, “Vivat Cinema of Russia”. Resigned from the post of Chairman of the Culture Committee in August 2012 of his own free will.

As the St. Petersburg media wrote, Meskhiev’s departure from office was connected with a prosecutor’s audit of the committee’s activities. The city prosecutor's office stated that due to the negligence of the head of the committee, Meskhiev, the private company of Victor Kramer committed fraud in the amount of almost 15 million rubles. All accounting documents are personally endorsed by Dmitry Meskhiev.

Meskhiev is gone, but his work lives on

The city prosecutor's office gave its assessment of Dmitry Meskhiev's short-lived leadership of St. Petersburg culture. More precisely, one episode. According to prosecutors, due to the negligence of the head of the committee, the private company of Viktor Kramer committed fraud in the amount of almost 15 million rubles. Now the committee employees face criminal charges under the article “negligence”, and the producer faces charges of fraud. Two weeks after the sudden resignation of Dmitry Meskhiev from the post of chairman of the culture committee, new evidence was given to the version that his departure was connected with a prosecutor’s audit of the committee’s activities. From the materials that the city prosecutor's office sent to Legislative Assembly deputy Vyacheslav Notyag, it follows that the company led by director Viktor Kramer inflated the estimates for Victory Day by several times, which is why the city lost 15 million rubles. At a minimum, prosecutors note.

Meskhiev sent, the deputy went

The story of the organization of Victory Day in St. Petersburg became one of the first in a series of scandals regarding the holding of city holidays. It all started with the fact that, in fact, bypassing the competitions, Kramer and Co. Production received a large budget sum of 20 million rubles. Moreover, initially (if, of course, you believe the documents) - without even claiming it.

Two medium-sized ones and “Maxifan” took part in the competition for holding Victory Day. However, the expert commission eliminated their applications, under the pretext that the organizations provided false information (by the way, the St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office does not argue with this). As a result, the competition was declared invalid, and under time pressure, the organization of one of the most important holidays was entrusted to the experienced director of mass events, Viktor Kramer.

And here’s what’s curious: although initially Kramer & Co. did not participate in the competition, it turned out that the company still has ready-made plans for celebrating Victory Day.

— We often prepare a lot in advance. Sometimes we participate, sometimes we don’t, but we come up with ideas,” the company’s general director, Larisa Makovskaya, explained the paradoxical situation to ZAKS.Ru at the end of April.

At that time, however, the organizers did not reveal their cards, but soon everyone was able to appreciate the holiday. The assessments were impartial: the blogosphere was seething with indignation at the performance of the “star” Nadezhda Babkina and local groups, as well as congratulations from the Norwegian ambassador on behalf of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition (in fact, Norway was occupied by the Third Reich).

But this doesn’t matter - after all, there are no comrades according to taste. The trouble happened when market experts unanimously began to assure that the past holiday was not worth the declared 19.6 million rubles. They estimated the real cost at 7 million rubles. Deputy Vyacheslav Notyag addressed the corresponding question (more precisely, a request) to Governor Poltavchenko. But Georgy Sergeevich answered clearly: the competition took place without violations, the finance and financial control committees have no complaints. When the people’s representative managed to personally ask the head of the Culture Committee, Dmitry Meskhiev, about the activities of Kramer and Co., the conversation did not work out.

“I asked Dmitry Dmitrievich: “Will you explain to me what happened, or is it better to go straight to the prosecutor’s office with this?” Meskhiev said - to the prosecutor’s office - so I went,” Notyag told ZAKS.Ru.

“Severe damage has been caused”

The results of the prosecutor's audit were long-awaited - they had been awaited at least since Dmitry Meskhiev resigned. Prosecutors lived up to their expectations. The amount is enough: according to experts brought in by the prosecutor’s office to work, the real action that the townspeople saw on Palace Square on May 9 cost the organizers only 5.6 million rubles. While the budget is 19.6 million rubles. That is, Kramer and Co. Production unreasonably increased the estimate by at least 14 million rubles.

Prosecutors have claims not only against Victor Kramer’s production center, but also against the committee. And not at all to nameless employees or “unidentified persons”: the document signed by Deputy Prosecutor Pavel Panfilov states that the accounting documents were personally endorsed by the chairman of the committee. That is, Dmitry Dmitrievich Meskhiev.

The city prosecutor's office also examined possible methods of fraud. According to prosecutors, Kramer & Co. used shell companies to enter into subcontracting agreements. Thus, for the amount of 1.2 million rubles, the production center rented lighting equipment and generators from a certain Delta LLC. Employees of the prosecutor's office were not too lazy to check the fate of this company and found out that there was no organization at the location of the specified address. Moreover, according to the tax service, Delta did not conduct any economic activity in either 2011 or 2012.

ZAKS.Ru, of course, turned to Viktor Kramer for comments in connection with the prosecutor’s audit and its results. However, the production director told the editors that, firstly, he would not comment on the results of the inspection until he had read them, and secondly, he would not comment on anything at all over the phone.

“Stealing on Victory Day is regrettable”

Deputy of the city parliament Vyacheslav Notyag believes that it was the prosecutor’s investigation into Kramer and Co. Production that became the catalyst for the resignation of Dmitry Meskhiev. At the same time, the parliamentarian emphasizes: he did not have a goal to “overthrow” anyone.

“I was offended by Meskhiev’s behavior, of course. But not even that. It is clear that most of the officials are thieves. But stealing on Victory Day is completely regrettable. I have no satisfaction. In the worst case, Meskhiev will be punished with 120 thousand rubles. And you can’t calculate it from him. “He left on his own,” the people’s representative notes in a conversation with ZAKS.Ru.

As for Kramer and Co., they face more problems, because the fraud is large-scale. Another thing, the deputy notes, is that neither the prosecutors nor Governor Poltavchenko have any complaints about the competition procedure itself. This means that the city is not immune from the appearance of a conditional one under the new head of the committee.

Notyag’s colleague in the Yabloko faction, chairman of the commission on culture, science and legislation, Maxim Reznik, is also satisfied with the work of the prosecutors.

“I hope that such proceedings will improve the situation with city holidays and competitions for their holding. This is a good lesson, a good example. And especially against the backdrop of the governor’s response that the Finance Committee and the Financial Control Committee have no complaints,” the Yabloko member noted in a comment to ZAKS.Ru.

The head (the same one who unsuccessfully tried to win the competition for holding Victory Day) Yuri Rastegin also had certain hopes in connection with the results of the prosecutor's audit.

“It’s always good for the market when one outright swindler is removed.” The question is who will come in return. If Marina Fokina’s “International Center for Festivals and Celebrations” returns (it held the largest city festivals under the previous administration - note ZAKS.Ru), then that’s not bad. MCFP has always provided an opportunity for someone to earn money (through subcontracts – note by ZAKS.Ru), notes a representative of the event industry. “Kramer & Co. pulled everything under itself, didn’t give anyone work, that’s why everyone in our community is angry with it,” Rastegin expressed his opinion to ZAKS.Ru.

The statement of the market participant, by the way, is symptomatic. Because no one expects fair competitions for holding holidays. And how can we expect them if, let us remind you, both the governor and the prosecutor’s office explain: there are no complaints about holding competitions. Whether not only prosecutors, but also investigators will have claims against Viktor Kramer and Dmitry Meskhiev is a question to which the answer is not yet clear.

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Personal life

Dmitry Meskhiev does not like to dedicate journalists to the details of his personal life. It is known that he was married several times. His first wife was Maria Averbakh, the daughter of director Ilya Averbakh.

In the late 80s, during the filming of the film Gambrinus, Meskhiev became close to actress Irina Rozanova. The couple had strong feelings, but their disagreements were even stronger.

After Rozanova, Meskhiev had many affairs. For example, with Nastya Kalmanovich. Dmitry courted beautifully, but the girl quickly realized that they were not a couple. "Time is over. We gave each other everything we could give. I informed Dima about my decision over the phone, and this saved us from insults and reproaches. He accepted it steadfastly,” Kalmanovich admitted in an interview.

In 2005, Dmitry married an actress of the theater. Lensovet Laura Lauri. He cast his wife in one of his films, “The Princess and the Pauper,” but the marriage did not last long and they separated.

The next time Dmitry Dmitrievich married actress Kristina Kuzmina, who was sixteen years younger than him. They met at an audition for the same film “The Princess and the Pauper,” in which the director’s previous wife starred. Christina was not approved for the role, but a year and a half later Meskhiev called her and asked to see her. In 2009, Kristina Kuzmina played in his film “The Man at the Window”, and in 2010 she gave birth to a daughter, Agrippina-Agrafena.

However, due to numerous quarrels, Kristina Kuzmina and Dmitry Meskhiev broke up in 2012. After the divorce, the couple could not share their daughter and property for a long time, and the scandals continued. The yellow press wrote that the director beat his ex-wife when she tried to meet with Agrippina-Agrafena.

Apparently, the spouses managed to come to an agreement. At least it is known that the girl now lives with her mother. In an interview with MK-St. Petersburg, Kuzmina said that “Dima, as befits a father, took on some responsibilities for raising Agrippina. Financially."

The wife of director Dmitry Meskhiev told the police that he beat her

2014 was a year full of scandals in star families: divorces, division of property, struggle for children. An hour is not enough to list everyone, here is Andrei Arshavin with Yulia Baranovskaya, and the unfinished story of Alexander Kerzhakov with Ekaterina Safronova. The regiment of St. Petersburg troublemakers has arrived. Actress Kristina Kuzmina and director Dmitry Meskhiev distinguished themselves. The divorce story has been going on for two years, but it reached its height two weeks ago - on September 25.

The reason for the quarrel and fight was the common four-year-old daughter Agrippina-Agrafena. The girl lives either with her mother or with her father. Christina came to take the child for herself, but Dmitry did not let her into the house. And when the ex-lover climbed over the fence to meet his daughter, Meskhiev, according to rumors, gave her a blow. Yes, such that I had to go to the police to write a statement, and from there to the emergency room.

“We have several such requests every day,” the police explained to Komsomolskaya Pravda. “Everything is already in the file, we won’t even look for it.” A common thing, why exactly did it interest you?

As proof that her husband raised his hand against her, Kuzmina posted on social networks a photo of a special neck brace that doctors prescribe to patients with injuries.

“My present. Harsh realities,” she captioned the photo.

Sympathizers immediately appeared: they say, how is it possible, what happened? Christina promised to tell everything. But, probably, she didn’t have time: at first she was busy in plays, and then she went on vacation at sea with her daughter.

Kristina Kuzmina plays in theater and cinema. Photo: Instagram

- Bruises? — the actress’s colleagues were surprised. - Did not notice. But you understand, makeup can work wonders. Kuzmina is not in Russia now. She needs to calm down and decide how to proceed.

Christina's friends put forward a version: the quarrel occurred over the division of property and the amount of alimony. Allegedly, the couple has not officially divorced yet. The actress herself does not answer the phone, but she is due to return from abroad one of these days.

Dmitry Meskhiev is now in Russia. He, according to rumors, also wrote a statement. The injuries he recorded were abrasions, which he most likely received from the sharp nails of his ex-lover. But the director himself does not confirm this.

“I don’t want to delve into such dirt,” Meskhiev refused to tell his version. “Let the investigators look into this story.”

DOSSIER "KP"

Kristina KUZMINA plays on two St. Petersburg stages at once: at the Komissarzhevskaya Theater and the Mironov Russian Entreprise. The actress also starred in the films “Seven Cabins”, “The Man at the Window” and in the series “Adjutants of Love” as the wife of Emperor Alexander I.

Titles and awards

• Honored Artist of Russia
• Member of the European Film Academy, member of the Russian Oscar Committee,
• Member of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts "Nika"
• Member of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Sciences and Arts "Golden Eagle"
• Member of the Russian Producers Guild
• Chairman of the Coordination Council of Creative Unions of St. Petersburg

Almost every film of his has received several awards at Russian and foreign film festivals. In terms of the number of prizes for his work, Dmitry Meskhiev is one of the leaders among domestic filmmakers.

Based on materials from the sites: kino-teatr.ru, Tele.ru, kinopoisk.ru, vokrug.tv, 7 Days, Uznayvse.ru, Sobesednik.ru, Ok-magazine.ru, Personal Life.ru, RIA Novosti.

Social activity

• Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Culture and Art
• Member of the Expert Council of the Russian Cinema Fund(?)
• 1st Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Council of Creative Unions of St. Petersburg
• Member of the Russian Producers Guild
• Member of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts "Nika"
• Member of the State Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of the Russian Federation "Golden Eagle"
• Member of the European Film Academy
• Member of the Russian Oscar Committee
• Secretary of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation

Filmography: Director

• Two tickets home (2018)
• The Wall (2016)
• Battalion (2014)
• Reconstruction experience (2010)
• Stepan Razin (2010)
• Man at the Window (2010)
• Seven Cabins (2007)
• The Princess and the Pauper (2005), TV series
• Ours (2004)
• Lines of Fate (2003), TV series
• Features of national policy (2003)
• Kamikaze Diary (2002)
• Mechanical Suite (2001)
• Women's Property (1999)
• American (1998)
• Bomb (1997)
• Arrival of a Train (1995)
• Above Dark Water (1993)
• Cynics (1991)
• Gambrinus (1990)

Filmography: Producer

• Two tickets home (2018)
• Crosscurrent (2010)
• Golden Trap (2010)
• Promotion (2010)
• Breathe with me (2010), TV series
• Such an Ordinary Life (2010)
• Man at the Window (2010)
• Cherkizona. Disposable People (2010)
• A woman's word (2009-2010), TV series
• Palm Sunday (2009)
• The Wizard (2008)
• Swing (2008)
• Real Dad (2008)
• The One Who Turns Out the Lights (2008)
• The Betrothed-Mummer (2007)
• Seven Cabins (2007)
• Butterfly Kiss (2006)
• Great Walk (2005)
• The Princess and the Pauper (2005), TV series
• Happy (2005), TV series
• Sisters (2004), TV series

Filmography[ | ]

Actor[ | ]

1. 1992 - Two Captains 2
2. 2008 - Along the contour of the face - Alexander

Stage director[ | ]

2018 - “Two Tickets Home” - feature film (also co-writer and producer).

2016 - “The Wall” - television series (4 episodes).

2015 - “Battalion” - feature film. To date, “Battalion” is the most titled war film in the entire history of Russian cinema. The film has received awards from all continents of the world. The film is the leader in Russian film distribution in 2015.

• Prize "For Best Actress" - Maria Aronova. XXIII All-Russian Film Festival “Vivat Cinema of Russia!” (Saint-Petersburg, Russia)
• Prize "For Best Director" - Dmitry Meskhiev. At the American film festival The Honolulu Film Awards (USA)
• Honorary diploma of the film festival "Noble World", with a medal "For Merit" with the wording "For fidelity to the military-patriotic theme on the domestic silver screen" - Igor Ugolnikov (Moscow, Russia)
• Awards at the Mumbai International Film Festival (NMIFF) in the categories: “Best Film”, “Best Screenplay”, “Best Actress” and “Best Editing Director” (Mumbai, India)
• “Platinum Award for Feature Film” - director Dmitry Meskhiev at the Asia-Pacific International Film Festival (APIFA), (Jakarta, Indonesia)
• Prize "Best Debut" - Yanina Malinchik, prize "For Best Supporting Role" - Irina Rakhmanova at the International Festival of Film Actors "Constellation" (Orel, Russia)
• Prizes in the categories “Best Foreign Film”, “Best Director” (Dmitry Meskhiev), “Best Actress” (Maria Aronova), “Best Cinematography” (Ilya Averbakh) at the International Film Festival Brigde Film Fest (Mitrovica, Kosovo)
• Prize in the category “Best Foreign Film” at the Catalina Film Festival (California, USA)
• Prize “For Best Performance of a Leading Role” - Maria Aronova, at the Portsmouth International Film Festival (UK)
• Prize for film producer Igor Ugolnikov, at the Loughlin International Film Festival (LIFF) (Nevada, USA)
• Grand Prix, as well as victory in the categories “Best Actress” (Maria Aronova), “Best Supporting Actress” (Maria Kozhevnikova), “Best Screenplay” (Ilya Avramenko) at the International War Film Festival named after. Yu. N. Ozerova (Tula, Russia)
• Prize “For Best Actress” to Maria Kozhevnikova at the Yerevan International Film Festival (SIFF) (Yerevan, Armenia)
• Prizes in five categories: “Best Dramatic Film”, “Best Director” (Dmitry Meskhiev), “Best Producer” (Igor Ugolnikov, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Dmitry Rudovsky), “Best Cinematographer” (Ilya Averbakh) and “Best Actress” (Maria Aronova) at the international film festival IFilmmaker Film Festival (IFFF) (Marbella, Spain)
• Prizes in four categories: “Best film editing” (Alexei Maklakov, Maria Sergeenkova), “Best work of a sound engineer” (Lev Ezhov, Anatoly Belozerov), “Best film music” (Yuri Poteenko) at the Golden Eagle National Cinema Award (Moscow, Russia)
• Prizes in four categories: “Best Film”, “Grand Jury Prize for Best Film”, “Best Director” (Dmitry Meskhiev), “Best Actress” (Maria Aronova) at the international film festival in Florida Hollywood Florida Film Festival USA (Florida, USA )
• Award "Best Female Performer" - Maria Aronova at the XI International Sretensky Film Festival "Meeting"
• Prizes in four categories: “Best Film of the World”, “Best Film of the BRICS Countries”, “Best Actress” (Maria Aronova), “Best Sound Director” (Anatoly Belozerov) at the first International Film Festival of the BRICS Countries in Johannesburg (South Africa) The South African International Film Festival

2009 - “The Man at the Window” - feature film

• Prize for Best Actress at the Kinotavr International Film Festival for Maria Zvonareva
• Prize for Best Actor at the VIII Russian Film Festival “Moscow Premiere” to Yuri Stoyanov
• Special prize of the public jury of the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" of the VIII festival of national cinema "Moscow Premiere" to director Dmitry Meskhiev
• Main prize of the XI Russian Comedy Film Festival “Smile, Russia”
• Prize for the best script of the Amur Autumn Film and Theater Festival to screenwriter Ilya Tilkin
• Nomination for the Golden Eagle cinema award for the best actress for Maria Zvonareva.

2007 - “Seven Cabins” - feature film

2005 - “The Princess and the Pauper” - television feature film (8 episodes)

• Prize of the international television film forum "Together" for the best television film

2004 - “Ours” - in the first year the film received more than 35 prizes and awards.

• Grand Prix - “Golden George” of the XXVI International Moscow Film Festival in Moscow, 2004
• Silver George Prize for the best director's work, XXVI IFF in Moscow, 2004 - Dmitry Meskhiev
• Silver George Prize for the best performance of a male role - B. Stupka - IFF XXVI in Moscow, 2004
• The Vogue magazine prize for the best style decision was awarded at the XXVI IFF
• The Prize of the Jury of Russian Film Critics for the best film of the Main Competition was awarded at the XXVI IFF
• Prize for best director of the XI Minsk International Festival "Leaf Fall" - Dmitry Meskhiev for the film "Our Own"
• Audience Jury Prize “Silver “Leaf Fall”” - XI Minsk International Festival “Leaf Fall”
• Film press jury prize - XI Minsk International Festival "Leaf Fall" - Dmitry Meskhiev for the film "Ours"
• Jury Prize for the best music for the film "Ours" - XI Minsk International Festival "Leaf Fall" - Svyatoslav Kurashov, film "Ours"
• Dialogue Prize at the Eastern European Film Festival in Cottbus
• Prize for Best Actor - B. Stupka - International Film Festival in Marrakech (Morocco)
• Audience Award for Dramatic Narrative - for the film "The Own", Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement - for the film "The Own" at the Cinequest festival, California, USA
• Nomination for the European Film Academy "Felix" prize for best actor - B. Stupka, film "Inside"
• Received prizes from the National Film Criticism and Film Press Award “Golden Aries” in the following categories:

— Best film — “Ours” (director D. Meskhiev)

— Best Screenplay (Valentin Chernykh)

- Best Actor (Bogdan Stupka)

- Best Supporting Actress (Natalia Surkova)

Received the Golden Eagle awards from the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Russia for 2004 in the following categories: - Best Screenplay - Valentin Chernykh - Best Cinematography - Sergey Machilsky - Best Actor - Sergey Garmash

• Received prizes from the national cinematographic award “Nika” for 2004 in the following categories:

— Best feature film — “Ours”

— Best screenplay — Valentin Chernykh

— Best cinematography — Sergey Machilsky

— Best Actor — Bogdan Stupka

— Best work of a sound engineer — Konstantin Zarin

• Received the main prize of the festival in Syracuse (USA) - “Best Director” - to Dmitry Meskhiev for the film “Ours”
• Special Prize of the American Screen Actors Guild - Best Actress Natalya Surkova
• "Triumph" Award - artist M. Evlanov - film "Ours"
• Golden Star Prize in the category “Best Heroic-Patriotic Film of the Year”
• Prize for best director - festival “Vivat, Cinema of Russia!” (2005)
• Award from the Government of St. Petersburg for achievements in cinema - the film “Ours” (Dmitry Meskhiev)
• Prize "Vyborg Account" of the festival "Window to Europe" - the film "Ours"

2003 - “Lines of Fate” - multi-part television feature film (24 episodes) - Channel "Russia"

2003 - “Features of national politics” - (filmed together with Yu. Konopkin, participated only in the filming process).

2002 — “Kamikaze Diary”

• honorary diploma of the X film festival “Window to Europe” to Yuri Kuznetsov for best actor

2001 — “Mechanical Suite”

• director's prize for the best acting ensemble - CF "Constellation-2001";
• Diploma of the jury of the competition “Revenge” - CF “Window to Europe-2001” (Vyborg);
• Prize for best director - CF “Vivat Cinema of Russia!” (2002, St. Petersburg),
• Nomination for the Nika National Film Award in the “Best Director’s Work” section (2002)

1999 — “Women’s Property”

• Press Prize at the RKF “Vivat Cinema of Russia!-2000” (St. Petersburg),
• jury prize at the international festival of film actors “Constellation” (1999) in the category “Best Actress” to Elena Safonova.

1998 — “American”

• Film competition prize - All-Russian Festival of Visual Arts in Tuapse-98, at the 2nd All-Russian Children's Festival of Visual Arts in "Orlyonok" the film was named "The most frank and controversial film" (1998)

1995 - “The Arrival of a Train”, short story “Exercise No. 5” (film) - a short film included in the film almanac “The Arrival of a Train”.

Dmitry Meskhiev shot his short film in “one” shot, setting and fulfilling the task of an experimental approach to the material.

• Film press awards for 1995: best film “The Arrival of a Train” (equally with the films “Peculiarities of the National Hunt” and “Muslim”);
• FIPRESCI Prize (for the film “The Arrival of a Train”) at ORFF “Kinotavr-96” (Sochi); Entered the top five candidates to determine the winner of the “Hamburg Account” Nomination at the III Film Forum (Sochi-97);
• Nomination for the “Green Apple - Golden Leaf” prize for 1995-1996. in the category "Best Director";
• Nomination for the Nika-95 Film Academy Prize in the Best Director category.

1993 — “Over Dark Water”

• Silver prize for directing and gold prize for best actress (K. Kachalina) - IFF in Taormina-93;
• Prize “Green Apple-Golden Leaf” (1993) for the best work of a composer (S. Kuryokhin);
• Nomination for the “Green Apple-Golden Leaf” prize for 1993 in the categories “Best Director” and “Best Producer” (I. Kalenov);
• Nomination for the Nika-93 Film Academy Prize in the categories: “Best Cinematography” (P. Lebeshev), “Best Music for a Film” (S. Kuryokhin).

1991 — “Cynics”

• Audience Award at the Second Premiere Film Festival in Moscow-91;

1990 — “Gambrinus”

• Special jury prize for directing at the Debut-90 Film Festival (Moscow); Special Jury Prize at the Valencia Young Film Festival '90.

Producer[ | ]

• 2019 — Step to happiness
• 2018 - Two tickets home
• 2015 - All smokers are damned
• 2015 - Battalion
• 2012 - Victoria
• 2012 - Crime by inheritance
• 2011 - Real
• 2011 - Lucky Pashka
• 2011 - Swallow's Nest
• 2011 - To the ends of the world
• 2011 - Forgotten
• 2011 — House on the Roadside
• 2011 - Undead
• 2011 - Countercurrent
• 2011 - Pure sample
• 2011 - Ivan and Tolyan
• 2011 - Goddaughter
• 2011 - A little crazy
• 2011 - Breakaway
• 2011 — Made in the USSR
• 2011 - Heart of Mary
• 2011 - Random Witness
• 2011 - Forensic experts
• 2011 - Robinson
• 2010 - Women's dreams of distant countries
• 2010 - Hindu
• 2010 — Promotion
• 2010 - A word to a woman
• 2010 - Such an ordinary life
• 2010 - Cherkizon. Disposable people
• 2010 - My favorite goofball
• 2010 - Breathe with me
• 2010 - Golden Trap
• 2009 - Personal file of Captain Ryumin
• 2009 - Palm Sunday
• 2009 - Obsessed
• 2008 - The Wizard
• 2008 - Sovereign
• 2008 - Real Dad
• 2008 - Hot asphalt
• 2007 - Narrowed Mummer
• 2007 - Sledgehammer and Tanya
• 2007 - Seven booths
• 2006 - Butterfly Kiss
• 2006 - Rush Hour
• 2004 - Happy
• 2004 - The Princess and the Pauper
• 2004 - Big Walk
• 2003 - Sisters
• 1995 - Exercise No. 5
• 1993 - Above Dark Water