Andrei Konchalovsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrei Konchalovsky
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| Андрей Кончаловский | |
Konchalovsky in 2023
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Andrei Sergeyevich Mikhalkov
20 August 1937 |
| Other names | Andrei Sergeyevich Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1960–present |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 7 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Nikita Mikhalkov (brother) |
Andrei Sergeyevich Konchalovsky (born August 20, 1937) is a famous filmmaker from Russia. He has directed many movies and TV shows in the Soviet Union, United States, and Russia.
He has won many important awards for his work. These include the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", the Legion of Honour, and the Primetime Emmy Award. Andrei Konchalovsky is the son of writer Sergey Mikhalkov and the brother of filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.
His well-known films include Uncle Vanya (1970), Siberiade (1979), Runaway Train (1985), and Dear Comrades! (2020). He also directed the TV miniseries The Odyssey in 1997.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Andrei Konchalovsky was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1937. His birth name was Andrei Sergeyevich Mikhalkov. His family has a long history of artists and nobles.
His father was the writer Sergey Mikhalkov. His mother was the poet Natalia Konchalovskaya. His brother, Nikita Mikhalkov, is also a well-known filmmaker.
Andrei is sometimes called Andron, but he prefers his official name, Andrei.
A Filmmaking Journey
Andrei Konchalovsky first studied music at the Moscow Conservatory for ten years. He planned to become a pianist. But in 1960, he met another famous director, Andrei Tarkovsky. This meeting changed his path.
Working with Tarkovsky
Konchalovsky worked with Tarkovsky on four films. He helped write the scripts for movies like Ivan's Childhood and Andrei Rublev.
First Films and Recognition
His first full-length movie as a director was The First Teacher (1964). It was popular in the Soviet Union and shown at many film festivals around the world.
His next film, Asya Klyachina's Story (1967), was not released right away by the Soviet government. But when it was finally shown twenty years later, people praised it as a masterpiece.
He then directed films based on famous books. These included A Nest of Gentle Folk (1969) by Ivan Turgenev and Uncle Vanya (1970) by Anton Chekhov.
Moving to Hollywood
In 1979, his epic film Siberiade was well-received at the Cannes Film Festival. This success helped him move to the United States in 1980 to work in Hollywood.
Some of his popular Hollywood movies include Maria's Lovers (1984), Runaway Train (1985), and Tango & Cash (1989). Runaway Train was based on a script by the famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.
In the 1990s, Konchalovsky returned to Russia. However, he still made historical films for American television. These included his version of The Odyssey (1997) and the award-winning remake of The Lion in Winter (2003).
Later Works and Awards
His film House of Fools (2003) was set in a psychiatric hospital during the war in Chechnya. It won him a Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2010, Konchalovsky released The Nutcracker in 3D. This was a musical film based on Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet. It mixed live action and 3D animation. However, critics and audiences generally did not like the film.
He also made documentaries. In 2012, he directed The Battle for Ukraine, which looked at Ukraine's history with Russia. In 2013, he co-produced Royal Paintbox, a film about the artistic talents of the British royal family.
His film The Postman's White Nights (2014) won the Silver Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. This movie was based on the true story of a postman in a remote Russian village.
In 2016, his film Paradise also won the Silver Lion at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival. It was chosen to represent Russia at the Academy Awards.
In 2020, Konchalovsky directed Dear Comrades!. This historical drama was about the Novocherkassk massacre. It won the Special Jury Prize at the 77th Venice International Film Festival. Many people, including Anthony Lane from The New Yorker, called it Konchalovsky's "masterpiece."
Personal Life
Andrei Konchalovsky has been married five times and has seven children. His current wife is Russian actress Julia Vysotskaya. They have been married since 1998 and have two children, Maria and Petr.
In 2013, Konchalovsky and his daughter Maria were in a car accident in France. Maria suffered a serious brain injury. By 2018, her condition had improved, and she returned to Russia with her parents.
Honours and Awards
Andrei Konchalovsky has received many awards and honors throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- 2018: Cavalier of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy)
- 2017: The Federico Fellini Prize 'For a special contribution to the development of the cinema' (Italy)
- 2017: The European Medal of Tolerance (Brussels)
- 2016: The Robert Bresson Prize, Vatican (Italy)
- 2011: National Order of the Legion of Honour (France)
- 2005: Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France)
- 1997: Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 4th class (Russia)
- 1980: People's Artist of the RSFSR (USSR)
Film Festival Awards
- Cannes Film Festival: Grand Prix Spécial du Jury for Siberiade (1979)
- Venice Film Festival: Grand Jury Prize for House of Fools (2002)
- Venice Film Festival: Silver Lion for The Postman's White Nights (2014)
- Venice Film Festival: Silver Lion for Paradise (2016)
- Venice Film Festival: Grand Jury Prize for Dear Comrades! (2020)
- San Sebastián International Film Festival: Golden Seashell for Homer and Eddie (1989)
- Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Crystal Globe for A Lover's Romance (1974)
- Chicago International Film Festival: Silver Hugo for Dear Comrades! (2020)
Other Major Awards
- Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special for The Odyssey (1997)
- Golden Eagle Awards: Best Screenplay for The Postman's White Nights (2015)
- Golden Eagle Awards: Best Motion Picture and Best Director for Paradise (2017)
- Golden Eagle Awards: Best Director for Dear Comrades! (2021)
- Nika Awards: Best Director for The Story of Asya Klyachina (1989)
- Nika Awards: Best Film and Best Director for Paradise (2017)
- Monte-Carlo Television Festival: Golden Nymph for The Lion in Winter (2004)
Filmography
Andrei Konchalovsky has worked on many films and television projects as a director, writer, and producer.
Films Directed
- 1961: The Boy and the Dove (Short film)
- 1965: The First Teacher
- 1967: The Story of Asya Klyachina
- 1969: A Nest of Gentry
- 1970: Uncle Vanya
- 1974: A Lover's Romance
- 1979: Siberiade
- 1982: Split Cherry Tree (Short film)
- 1984: Maria's Lovers
- 1985: Runaway Train
- 1986: Duet for One
- 1987: Shy People
- 1989: Tango & Cash
- 1989: Homer and Eddie
- 1991: The Inner Circle
- 1994: Assia and the Hen with the Golden Eggs
- 2002: House of Fools
- 2007: Gloss
- 2007: To Each His Own Cinema (Segment: "Dans le noir")
- 2010: The Nutcracker
- 2012: The Battle for Ukraine (Documentary)
- 2014: The Postman's White Nights
- 2016: Paradise
- 2019: Sin
- 2020: Dear Comrades!
- 2020: Homo Sperans (Documentary)
Television Projects
- 1997: The Odyssey (Miniseries)
- 2003: The Lion in Winter (Television film)
- 2003–04: Geniuses (Documentary series)
- 2004: The Burden of Power (Documentary series)
Stage Credits
Andrei Konchalovsky has also directed many plays and operas for the stage.
Plays Directed
- Eugene Onegin (1985)
- The Queen of Spades (1990)
- The Seagull (1987, 2004)
- Uncle Vanya (since 2009)
- Three Sisters (since 2012)
- The Cherry Orchard (since 2016)
Operas Directed
- War and Peace (2000, 2002, 2009)
- Un ballo in maschera (2001)
- Boris Godunov (2010)
Images for kids
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Konchalovsky at a press conference in Vienna, 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Andréi Konchalovski para niños
