Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov (russian: Эльдар Александрович Рязанов; 18 November 1927 – 30 November 2015) was a

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

and

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

n film director, screenwriter, poet, actor and pedagogue whose popular comedies, satirizing the daily life of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...

and Russia, are celebrated throughout the former Soviet Union and former

Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republi ...

countries.

Biography

Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov was born in

Samara Samara ( rus, Сама́ра, p=sɐˈmarə), known from 1935 to 1991 as Kuybyshev (; ), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara rivers, with a population ...

. His father, Aleksandr Semyonovich Ryazanov, was a diplomat who worked in

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

. His mother, Sofya Mikhailovna (née Shusterman), was of Jewish descent. In 1930, the family moved to

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

, and soon his parents divorced. He was then raised by his mother and her new husband, Lev Mikhailovich Kopp. In 1937 his father was arrested by the Stalinist government and subsequently served 18 years in the

correctional labour camp The Correctional Labour Camp was a kind of penitentiary institution. Under various names and forms of ownership, they exist practically all over the world (due to the need to reduce the costs of the penitentiary system by means of its self–suffi ...

s. Ryazanov began to create films in the early 1950s. In 1955, Ivan Pyryev, then a major force in the Soviet film industry, suggested to him to begin work on his film

Carnival Night ''Carnival Night'' (russian: Карнавальная ночь, Karnavalnaya noch) is a 1956 Soviet musical film. It is Eldar Ryazanov's first big-screen film, Lyudmila Gurchenko's first role and also one of the most famous films starring popula ...

. At first, Ryazanov refused, as he wanted to make "serious films", but then was convinced to begin, as Pyryev believed that "anybody could shoot a melodrama, but only a few can create good comedy." He won instant success, and began to release more films. He was named a

People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. Nomenclature and significa ...

in 1984, and received the

USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize (russian: links=no, Государственная премия СССР, Gosudarstvennaya premiya SSSR) was the Soviet Union's state honor. It was established on 9 September 1966. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, t ...

in 1977. He won the Nika Award for Best Director in 1991 for the film '' Promised Heaven''. Among his most famous films are ''

'' (1955), ''

Hussar Ballad ''The Hussar Ballad'' (russian: Гусарская баллада, Gusarskaya ballada) is a 1962 Soviet musical film by Eldar Ryazanov, filmed on Mosfilm. In effect, it is one of the best loved musical comedies in Russia. With most of its dialog ...

'' (1962), '' Beware of the Car'' (1966), '' The Irony of Fate'' (1975), ''

Office Romance ''Office Romance'' (russian: links=no, italic=yes, Служебный роман, Sluzhebny roman) is a 1977 Soviet comedy film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The film's plot is based on the stageplay ''Co-workers'' (') written by Ryazanov and Emil ...

'' (1977), '' The Garage'' (1980), A Railway Station for Two (1982) and ''

A Cruel Romance ''A Cruel Romance'' (russian: Жестокий романс) is a 1984 Russian romantic drama directed by Eldar Ryazanov. It is based on Alexander Ostrovsky's classic play ''Without a Dowry'' (1878)., which had earlier been adapted into a film in 1 ...

'' (1984). Ryazanov's main genre was tragicomedy.

Illness and death

Ryazanov had an acute

ischemic stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop funct ...

in November 2014. He was admitted to a Moscow hospital on 21 November 2015 due to shortness of breath. He died around midnight on 30 November 2015, of heart and lung failure, at the age of 88.

Legacy

Ryazanov was one of the most successful film directors of the Soviet Union, and his films are still well-known in the post-USSR landscape. ''The Irony of Fate'' is still aired every December 31 in most post-USSR countries except for Ukraine. A street in Moscow was named after him in 2017, and a museum and memorial dedicated to his memory was opened on the site of his childhood home in Samara.

Honours and awards

* Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"; **2nd class (3 July 2008) – for outstanding contribution to the development of national cinema and many years of creative activity **3rd class (20 June 1996) – for services to the state, an outstanding contribution to the development of national cinema and culture *

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...

, twice (1969, 1977) *

Order of Friendship of Peoples The Order of Friendship of Peoples (russian: oрден Дружбы народов, translit=orden Druzhby narodov) was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military unit ...

(1987) *Order of the "Key of Friendship" (Kemerovo Region, 2007) *Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) *Commander of the Order of Honour (Georgia) (2008) *

People's Artist of the RSFSR People's Artist of the RSFSR (russian: Народный артист РСФСР, ''Narodnyj artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet Union artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchest ...

(1974) *

(1984) *

(1977) (for the film "Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!") * Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR (1979) (for the film "Office Romance") *Winner of the All-Union Film Festival in the "First Prize among the comedies" for 1958 *Winner of the All-Union Film Festival in the "Special Award" for 1983 * Nika awards; **Best Director (1991) **Best Fiction Film (1991) **Honour and dignity (2006) *Winner of Tsarskoye Selo Art Prize (2005) *The

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

4258 Ryazanov is named after him.

Filmography

*1950 ''They are Studying in Moscow'' (''Oni Uchatsya v Moskve''), documentary – author (in co-operation with Z. Fomina) *1951 ''The Way Named October'' (''Doroga imeni Oktyabrya''), documentary – Director (in co-operation with L. Derbysheva) *1952 ''On the World Chess 8Championship'' (''Na Pervenstve mira po shakhmatam''), documentary – Director *1953 ''Your Books'' (''Tvoi Knizhki''), documentary – Director (in co-operation with Z. Fomina) *1953 ''Near Krasnodar'' (''Nedaleko ot Krasnodara''), documentary – Director *1954 ''Island of Sakhalin'' (''Ostrov Sakhalin''), documentary – Director *1955 '' Spring Voices'' (''Весенние голоса''), documentary - second Director *1956 ''

'' (''Карнавальная ночь'') – Director *1957 '' The Girl Without Address'' (''Девушка без адреса'') – Director *1961 ''

How Robinson Was Created ''How Robinson Was Created'' (russian: Как создавался Робинзон, italic=yes, translit. ) is a 1961 short Soviet film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The film is part of the comedy anthology film series ''Absolutely Seriousl ...

'' (''Как создавался Робинзон'') – Director *1961 '' The Man from Nowhere'' (''Человек ниоткуда'') – Director *1962 ''

'' (''Гусарская баллада'') – Director / Screenwriter *1965 ''

Give me a complaints book '' Give Me a Book of Complaints'' (russian: Дайте жалобную книгу, Dayte zhalobnuyu knigu, italic=yes is a 1965 Soviet Union, Soviet comedy film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. Plot A group of young journalists accidentally walks into ...

'' (''Дайте жалобную книгу'') – Director / Actor: Chief editor *1966 '' Beware of the Car'' (''Берегись автомобиля'') – Director / Screenwriter *1968 ''

Zigzag of Success ''Zigzag of Success'' (russian: Зигзаг удачи, link=yes, translit. ''Zigzag udachi'') is a 1968 Soviet comedy film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. Plot Photo studio "Contemporary" in a provincial town lives with its everyday problems. ...

'' (''Зигзаг удачи'') – Director / Screenwriter *1971 ''

Grandads-Robbers ''Old Robbers'' (russian: Старики́–разбо́йники, Stariki-razboyniki, lit. "elderly bandits") is a 1972 Soviet comedy-drama by Eldar Ryazanov, filmed on Mosfilm. The movie title resembles the name of a Russian children's tradi ...

'' (''Старики-разбойники'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: The Passer-by *1974 ''

Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia (russian: Невероятные приключения итальянцев в России, translit. ''Neveroyatnye Priklyucheniya Italyantsev v Rossii'') or A Crazy, Crazy, Crazy Race in Russia ( ...

'' (''Невероятные приключения итальянцев в России'') / Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Doctor *1975 '' The Irony of Fate'' (''Ирония судьбы или с легким паром!'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Airplane Passenger *1977 ''

'' (''Служебный роман'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Bus Passenger *1979 '' The Garage'' (''Гараж'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Sleeping Man *1981 '' Say a Word for the Poor Hussar'' (''О бедном гусаре замолвите слово'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Confectioner *1982 ''

Station for Two ''Station for Two'' (russian: Вокзал для двоих, Vokzal dlya dvoikh) is a 1983 Soviet romantic comedy directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The film became the Soviet box office leader of 1983 with a total of 35.8 million ticket sales. It was ...

'' (''Вокзал для двоих'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Railroad Supervisor *1984 ''

'' (''Жестокий романс'') – Director / Screenwriter *1987 ''

Forgotten Melody for a Flute ''Forgotten Melody for a Flute'' (russian: Забытая мелодия для флейты, Zabytaya melodiya dlya fleyty) is a 1987 Russian comedy film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The film's plot is based on the stage play of the same name wr ...

'' (''Забытая мелодия для флейты'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Astronomer *1988 ''

Dear Yelena Sergeyevna ''Dear Yelena Sergeyevna'' (russian: Дорогая Елена Сергеевна, Dorogaya Yelena Sergeyevna) is a 1988 Soviet drama film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The film is based on an eponymous play by Lyudmila Razumovskaya. Plot …After ...

'' (''Дорогая Елена Сергеевна'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Neighbour *1991 '' Promised Heaven'' (''Небеса обетованные'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Man in Diner *1993 ''

Prediction A prediction (Latin ''præ-'', "before," and ''dicere'', "to say"), or forecast, is a statement about a future event or data. They are often, but not always, based upon experience or knowledge. There is no universal agreement about the exact ...

'' (''Предсказание'') – Director / Screenwriter *1996 '' Hello, Fools!'' (''Привет, дуралеи!'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Manager of the bookshop *2000 ''

Old Hags ''Old Hags'' (russian: Старые клячи, translit. ''Starye klyachi'', ''Old nags'', "Old useless horses") is a 2000 Russian comedy film directed by Eldar Ryazanov. Plot Four middle-aged women with different fates live in Moscow. ...

'' (''Старые клячи'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Judge *2000 '' Still Waters'' (Тихие омуты) – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Radiologist / Producer *2003 '' The Key of Bedroom'' (''Ключи от спальни'') – Director / Screenwriter / Actor: Police constable / Producer *2006 '' Carnival Night 2'' (TV) – Director / Actor (Cameo appearance) *2006 '' Andersen. Life Without Love'' – Director / Screenwriter (with I. Kvirikadze) / Actor: Mortician / Producer *2007 '' The Irony of Fate 2'' – Actor (

Cameo appearance A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly ei ...

)

References

;Additional sources *David MacFadyen, ''The Sad Comedy of Elʹdar Riazanov: An Introduction to Russia's Most Popular Filmmaker,'' McGill-Queen's Press: 2003,

External links

* * *
Russian fan site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryazanov, Eldar 1927 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Russian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Russian male actors 20th-century Russian poets 21st-century Russian dramatists and playwrights 21st-century Russian male actors 21st-century Russian poets Writers from Samara, Russia Academicians of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences "Nika" Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography alumni High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors faculty People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Recipients of the Nika Award Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Honor (Georgia) Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the USSR State Prize Recipients of the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR Russian people of Jewish descent Soviet people of Jewish descent Russian documentary filmmakers Russian dramatists and playwrights Russian film directors Russian male film actors Russian male poets 20th-century Russian screenwriters Male screenwriters 20th-century Russian male writers Russian television presenters Soviet documentary film directors Soviet dramatists and playwrights Soviet film directors Soviet male film actors Soviet male poets Soviet screenwriters Soviet television presenters Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery Actors from Samara, Russia