For many decades now, not a single episode of the super-popular KVN television project has been complete without the presence of the “elder” of the Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful, Yuli Gusman, on the jury. This talented personality, who has shown himself in various fields of art, despite his advanced age (73 years), continues to infect those around him with his optimism and youthful enthusiasm. The biography of Yuli Gusman is full of references to various situations from which he always managed to emerge with honor. Therefore, it will certainly be interesting to read for fans of the director who value him as a KVN veteran.
Studying at university
After graduating from high school in 1960, Yuli Gusman entered the Baku Medical Institute. He had long been interested in hypnosis, the possibility of human learning in a dream, extrasensory perception and the works of Sigmund Freud, so he chose the specialty of a psychiatrist.
During his years of study at the university, Yuliy was actively involved in sports and received ranks in several of its types. In addition, he actively used his directorial abilities during the preparation of performances by the student amateur group.
The beginning of creativity in cinema
In the early 70s, Guzman went to Moscow, where he entered and graduated from the Higher Courses for Directors and Screenwriters in 1973. Thanks to KVN, they already knew him by sight, and if he wanted, he could stay to work in the capital. However, Yuliy Solomonovich chose to return to his hometown.
In Baku, he got a job as a production director at the Azerbaijanfilm film studio. In addition, he was offered the position of artistic director of the capital's musical theater.
In both fields, Yuliy Solomonovich Gusman achieved great success and became even more convinced of the correctness of his choice. By the way, during the years of work in the theater, critics noted the director’s ability to notice such features of familiar characters that usually remained in the shadows. Even the classical repertoire in Guzman’s reading looked fresh and found a strong response in the hearts of the audience.
Gusman Mikhail Solomonovich: biography
The famous journalist was born in 1950 in Baku. He studied at school No. 160, and after graduating he entered the Institute of Foreign Languages of Azerbaijan, where his mother, Lola Yulievna, was a professor.
In 1970, Mikhail Gusman graduated from high school and began working at the Baku City Komsomol Committee. At the same time, he studied at the Higher Party School. Then he was appointed to the position of deputy chairman of the Committee of Youth Organizations of the Azerbaijan SSR.
Since M. Guzman had proven himself well in this position, in 1986 he was sent to work in the capital, where he became the head of the information department of the USSR KMO. Thus, Guzman entered the information business at the dawn of perestroika. And, as those who knew him during this period of his life say, he was very successful.
So, in 1991, he became the director for information cooperation of the Infomol agency, and later (in 1995-1998) - vice president of ANKOM-TASS.
Moving to Moscow
In the late 1980s, Gusman Mikhail and Yuliy left their native Baku, but never lost touch with their beloved city. They settled in Moscow and continued their activities: one in the field of politics and journalism, and the other in cinema.
In 1988-2002, Yuliy Solomonovich served as director of the CDK and initiated the publication of the Dom Kino newspaper. With his active participation, political evenings were organized at which the ideas of A. I. Solzhenitsyn, the policies of N. S. Khrushchev and other issues that had been banned for many years were discussed.
In addition, Yuliy Solomonovich Gusman became one of the creators of the Nika Award, which was conceived as an analogue to the American Oscar, after which the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts was formed.
Yuli Gusman - biography
Yuliy Solomonovich Gusman (August 8, 1943, Baku) is a Soviet and Russian theater and film director, TV presenter, and actor. Founder and artistic director of the first National Prize of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts - the Nika Prize, permanent member of the KVN jury, member of the presidium of the Russian Jewish Congress. Born into the family of a military doctor, chief physician of the Caspian military flotilla during the Great Patriotic War, lieutenant colonel, doctor of medical sciences, professor, honored worker of science Solomon Moiseevich Gusman (1904-1980). Mother - Lola Yulievna Barsuk (1916-1977), an actress by first profession, then a translator, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, professor at the Institute of Foreign Languages of Azerbaijan. According to Guzman himself, five generations of his ancestors lived in Azerbaijan. Brother - Mikhail Gusman (born 1950), Honored Cultural Worker, laureate of the State Prize of Russia, First Deputy General Director of ITAR-TASS. In 1960 he graduated from Baku school No. 160 and entered the Azerbaijan Medical Institute named after Nariman Narimanov. He was not seriously interested in medicine, but became interested in psychology: hypnosis, sleep learning, clairvoyance, psychotherapy, and the works of Freud. He served in military service in Vilnius. At the institute he was actively involved in social work and sports. He has nine sports categories in various sports, was the champion of the Burevestnik society in saber fencing, and has a brown belt in karate. He took part in amateur performances and played in the school theater. In 1964, together with friends, they created an independent Baku KVN club. A year later he became its leader, for seven years he became the captain of the Baku national team, which did not lose a single competition from 1967 to 1972, became a repeated champion of the USSR, and in 1970 - the winner of the KVN Champion of Champions Cup. For the first time he introduced “organization” into KVN - the Baku team performed in the same uniform. Author and performer of the stunts “Tearing off the mustache,” “Removing the beard,” and the phrase “I’m like water off Guzman!” In 1966 he graduated from the institute with a degree in psychiatrist. In 1970, he graduated from graduate school at the Institute for Advanced Medical Studies named after Professor Aziz Aliyev of the USSR Ministry of Health with a degree in Psychology and Psychiatry, and wrote a dissertation on the topic “Clinical and psychological correlations in cerebral atherosclerosis.” In 1973 he graduated from the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors of the USSR State Cinema Committee, after which he returned to Baku. From 1973 to 1988, he was a production director at the Azerbaijanfilm film studio. In 1976-1984 - artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Musical Theater. In 1982, together with I.M. Goldin, he prepared a script and conducted, at the suggestion of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USSR to the USA A.F. Dobrynin and by order of the Chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting of the USSR S.G. Lapin, the first ever space teleconference between the USSR and the USA . In 1984-1985 - chief director of the Baku Song Theater. Then he staged the performances “Cap with Ears” (music by E. Khagagortyan), “Dragon” (music by E. Adler based on the fairy tale by E. L. Schwartz) and many others. In his works, director Yuli Gusman discovered a penchant for exploring the paradoxes of the human soul. In his stage reading, A. Dumas, for example, sought to bring his heroes closer to the young generation of the 1970s so that they could understand the impulses for good and the pain of others. Since 1988 he has lived and worked in Moscow. For a long time he was on the board of the Moscow Central House of Cinematographers (CDC), and in 1988-2002 he was director of the CDK. With his participation, the publication of the newspaper “Dom Kino” began, and his own television center was created. The first political evenings in Russia dedicated to A.I. Solzhenitsyn and N.S. Khrushchev, creative meetings with N.M. Korzhavin, V.N. Voinovich were held. For many years, the House of Cinema remained a kind of Headquarters of democratic forces, the political and cultural center of the capital (he held the post of director of the Central House of Culture until August 2002). Author of the idea of creating and artistic embodiment of the first Russian National Film Award “Nika”, an analogue of the Oscar Award of the American Film Academy, and the “Green Apple - Golden Leaf” award for young filmmakers. For this purpose, the Nika General Directorate was created. Then - the Academy of Cinematographic Arts of Russia, which included the country's leading actors, directors, screenwriters, artists, cameramen, and film critics. From 1996 to 2000, he was the host of the journalistic TV program “Tema” on the ORT channel. In 1999, he was the host of the entertainment television program “Evening with Yuliy Gusman” (ORT), this program was soon closed due to low ratings. In 2005, on the stage of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, especially for People's Artist of the USSR Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin (who was then 90 years old), Yuli Gusman staged the famous American musical “Man of La Mancha” (based on the novel by Cervantes “Don Quixote”). In 2006, after a 25-year break, he returned to cinema, filming the fantastic comedy “Park of the Soviet Period.” In 2007, the City-FM radio began broadcasting the program “Park of Culture and Leisure named after. Yulia Gusman" (authors and presenters - Y. Gusman and S. Chaika). In 2010, on the stage of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, Yu. Gusman staged the dedication performance “Dancing with the Teacher,” dedicated to the 95th anniversary of People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin. Permanent member of the jury of the KVN Major League. Invited to the final games of the KVN Premier League in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Six times he was a member of the jury of the KVN festival “Voting KiViN” (1995, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012). He is a co-host of the “Case” program on radio “Echo of Moscow” and co-host of Alexander Maslyakov in the humorous program “Sense of Humor” on Channel One. In 1993-1995, Yuliy Gusman was a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the first convocation, a member of the Russia's Choice faction, and since 1994 he served as deputy chairman of the Committee on Geopolitics. One of the founders of the State Duma Deputy Club and the Presidential Tennis Club “Big Hat”. One of the founders, member of the Presidium and Chairman of the Public Council of the Russian Jewish Congress, member of the Central Council of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress, member of the Committee of Civil Initiatives of Alexei Kudrin. In 2005, he participated in the creation of the public committee “Muscovites for a Unified Democratic List”, which supported the Yabloko and Union of Right Forces parties in the elections. Julius Gusman has repeatedly spoken out against nationalism, xenophobia, and homophobia. He spoke negatively about the legislative ban on the so-called “propaganda of homosexuality.” In 2012, while participating in the talk show “Historical Process,” he attached a piece of paper to his jacket with the inscription “gay” as a sign of solidarity with discriminated minorities. He was among the cultural figures who signed an open letter calling for the release of members of the group “Pussy Riot” from prison.
Film work
In total, Yuli Gusman (nationality - Jewish) made 7 films, and also acted as an actor in 5 films. His most famous work as a director is the musical action comedy “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you” with the participation of Lev Durov. In addition, Soviet and Russian viewers had the opportunity to see such films by Yuli Gusman as “Country House for One Family”, “Ice in the Warm Sea”, “Park of the Soviet Period”, etc. In addition, he took part in the dubbing of the cartoon “Parrot” Club".
Creation
Aspiring director Yuli Gusman worked at the Azerbaijanfilm film studio, and also staged performances at the Baku Musical Comedy and the Song Theater. The director's production style has always been distinguished by his unusual interpretation of the play. Guzman tends to notice the paradoxical character traits of a character, and brings classic stories as close to modernity as possible.
Yuliy Gusman
In this vein, the director staged the plays “Cap with Ears” to the music of Eduard Khagagortyan and “Dragon”, the script of which is based on a fairy tale by Evgeniy Schwartz.
During this period, Yuliy Gusman also made his debut as a writer: he published, in collaboration with the Soviet journalist Yaroslav Golovanov, the fantastic story “Contact”.
Much later, Guzman would stage the musical “Man of La Mancha” in Moscow especially for the 90th birthday of People’s Artist Vladimir Zeldin, and five years later he would also stage a dedication performance for him, “Dancing with the Teacher.”
Yuliy Gusman in the film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you”
Yuliy Solomonovich also succeeded as a film director. His drama “A Country House for One Family,” the humorous Eastern “Don’t Be Afraid, I’m with You,” and the children’s television film-concert “What is Yeralash?” were highly acclaimed.
After an almost 25-year break, he filmed the fantastic comedy “Park of the Soviet Period”, and also made new versions of the famous film hits “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you! 1919" and "Prisoner of the Caucasus!" In most of his films, Guzman also appeared as an actor, sometimes collaborating in this capacity with other directors.
Yuliy Gusman on the set of the film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you!” 1919"
Quite soon after moving to Moscow, Yuliy Gusman joined the board of the Moscow Central House of Cinematographers and for ten years even served as director of this club of filmmakers.
Guzman laid the foundation for the publication of the club newspaper “Dom Kino” and the work of his own television center, the CDK. Also during the reign of Julius Gusman, the Central House of Cinematographers became the unofficial headquarters of democratic forces, as well as the cultural center of the capital free from restrictions.
Yuliy Gusman as a member of the KVN jury
The Central House of Culture became a platform for the first political evenings in Russia, which were dedicated to the work of Alexander Solzhenitsyn and the activities of Nikita Khrushchev, and also held creative meetings with Russian poets and prose writers Naum Korzhavin and Vladimir Voinovich.
Yuliy Gusman had a very unusual experience in 1982. He created the script, organized and conducted the first space teleconference in the history of television between the USSR and the USA. This project was created directly at the suggestion of Anatoly Dobrynin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USSR to the USA, and started by order of Sergei Lapin, Chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting of the USSR.
Since the 80s, the director has also been constantly in the judge's chair of the KVN Major League. As a jury member, Guzman is scrupulous and more often than not gives low marks. By the way, with the permanent host of this humorous program, Alexander Maslyakov, Yuli hosted the comedy show “Sense of Humor” on Channel One.
In addition, viewers could see Yuli Gusman as a TV presenter in the information and analytical program “Tema” and the fun program “Evening with Yuli Gusman.” And on the radio he performed as the main character in the show “Park of Culture and Leisure named after Yuli Gusman” and the comedy-legal program “Case”. Also, the director himself often became a guest on various entertainment television shows, for example, in the studio of the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Yuli Gusman appeared more than once.
Activities on television
From 1996 to 2000, Yuliy Gusman worked as the host of the Tema program (ORT). Later (from 1999 to 2004), weekly episodes of his author’s project “Evening with Julius Gusman” appeared on the country’s television screens, where he invited famous figures in politics, art and science for a sincere conversation. In addition, as already mentioned, for many years the director has been a permanent member of the panel of judges of the Major League of the Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful.
Performance "Man of La Mancha"
This musical was staged by Yuli Solomonovich in 2004 especially for Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin. The reason was Guzman's desire to properly celebrate the outstanding achievements of this great artist on the eve of his 90th birthday. In the production, Zeldin played both the roles of Cervantes and Don Quixote. According to everyone who knew this great artist, “Man of La Mancha” extended his life, since Vladimir Mikhailovich was literally fueled by the energy emanating from the audience.
Notifications
– Yuliy Solomonovich, it is known that you oppose homophobia and the adoption of laws banning the so-called “propaganda of homosexuality.” So you are protecting gays?
– Both gays and migrant workers. Just don’t think that I’m some kind of defender of the rights of all kinds of minorities. Actually, I don’t relate to gays at all, they have their own lives, I have mine. But half of our men are gay, and everyone knows it. Gays in the presidential administration, in the Supreme Council, in the State Duma, everywhere. I have nothing against people who have nothing against other people, who do not try to infringe on someone’s rights or insult someone’s dignity. Again, don’t think that I’m the type to babysit with everyone. Oh no. I have always been in favor of the death penalty. I would hang pedophiles with my own hands. Easily! If you are walking down the street and hooligans accost you, then I will certainly get involved, with all my reluctance to get involved, fall into a puddle, fight and get stabbed in the side. I will intervene in any injustice I see.
– Is it true that you staged the musical “Man of La Mancha” especially for Vladimir Zeldin?
- Yes. He and I were once together at the Kinoshock festival in Anapa. One day I got up at half past nine in quiet delirium and saw: the handsome athlete Vladimir Mikhailovich Zeldin, who was then 88 years old, was coming out of the sea. I told him: “How are you?” He says: “Well, Yulinka, for some reason I haven’t played anything on the big stage for a long time.” I say: “There is a play about you, about Don Quixote of the theater.” Nobody believed it. But then, closer to the end of this story, they began to say differently, that the cunning Guzman found a wonderful actor and made a play around him. Thus, Zeldin has been acting, singing, dancing and fencing in the play “Man of La Mancha” for more than ten years (since 2005).
– And for Zeldin’s centenary, which is just around the corner, will you stage something for him?
- I'm trying to figure it out!
– More than thirty years ago, your film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you!” was released and became very popular. And so you made a sequel. What is the new picture about?
– I really wanted to make a film about friendship, so the main theme is still the same – friendship between people, peoples, countries. I did not set any propaganda and agitation goals. While filming the sequel to the film “Don’t be afraid, I’m with you,” I, of course, understood that it would be difficult to repeat the success, because the 1981 film was very popular. Although, you know, the film might not have been released!
- Why?
– The artistic council of the television association “Ekran” sat and was received with a bang. Inspired, I went to Baku to do practically technical work. I brought the film to show formally to someone who accepts the act. And suddenly I see a full hall of the same people sitting. I thought without hesitation: “Wow, how they liked the picture!” He sat down and showed the same picture, only in perfect color and sound. And the same people, looking into my eyes, began to say: “Kill, burn, execute, hang, tear to pieces.” It turns out that just the day before a secret decree of the CPSU Central Committee was issued banning karate. Now it sounds funny, but then everything was extremely serious. The painting could easily have been put on a shelf. The director was helped by a television boss who liked the film. She said: “What karate? You yourself said in an interview that this is the Azerbaijani national wrestling Gyulesh.” And so we got through!
– Do the same actors play in the sequel of the film?
- Oh yeah! Palat Bulbul-Ogly has become quite handsome, Mukhtarbek Kantemirov can ride a horse even better, and Lev Durov fights just as well as before, just like a ninja!
Political activity
Throughout his life, Julius Gusman took an active public position. He warmly supported Gorbachev's perestroika and was a supporter of the democratization of the country.
In the early 1990s, Gusman was elected to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Russia's Choice faction). In 1996, the politician became one of the founders and chairman of the OS of the Russian Jewish Congress.
Y. Guzman has repeatedly spoken out against any manifestations of xenophobia, nationalism and homophobia. In particular, he responded very sharply to the proposal for a legislative ban on the promotion of homosexuality. And he even put on a badge that said “gay” in order to express his solidarity with persecuted sexual minorities.
Personal life of Yuli Gusman
The director married Valida Muradovna in 1976. Guzman's wife is a teacher of French and Russian. She is a lecturer at Georgetown University. In 1977, the couple had a daughter. The girl was named Lola in honor of her grandmother. She received a legal education. In 2008, Lola married James Reid Stewart Bremner. Her husband comes from a famous English aristocratic family. In 2009, the director had a grandson, named Maximilian by his parents.
Due to their busy schedule, Yuliy Solomonovich and Valida Muradovna live separately for most of the year. However, their 40-year marriage continues to remain as strong as during the youth of this wonderful couple, when the whole of Baku was talking about the romance of the “French woman” and the famous kaveen-maker.
