«Nature in Jurmala reminds me of Leningrad Region»: Alexander Molochnikov spoke about what he misses the most 0 78

According to Molochnikov, his departure abroad was not initially related to his political views; it just happened that he enrolled at Columbia University right when Russia's special operation in Ukraine began. As a result, Alexander decided to stay in America, and now he believes that returning to his homeland is simply dangerous for him.

Molochnikov does not hide the fact that he sometimes misses home, especially when he is ill or in places that remind him of his native land: "When you are sick, you really feel home. You are sick, lying with a fever in some hotel or apartment that is not home, and you want to be in that room where you were sick as a child. <...> There were moments when I didn’t exactly regret...

I still want to take a stroll along the Petersburg embankment at some moment, especially when I come to Riga, where everything is very similar. The nature in Jurmala reminds me of the Leningrad Region."

At the same time, Alexander does not want to return to Russia because he believes it would be a "step backward" creatively: "Of course, I really want to go home, but I don’t want to live in Russia or even come there to work. <...> Thank God, everything is going well here. From the perspective of my creative path, it would be a step back. In this sense, I am glad that this situation has thrown me out, no matter how horrible it sounds."

The director noted that he has already achieved a lot during his years in the USA:

"We received two BAFTA awards, went to an incredible festival in Tel Aviv. I met Paolo Sorrentino, Werner Herzog, Jafar Panahi, Laura Dern, and Adam Sandler. My God, could I have dreamed of such a thing? There is a feeling of some continuation. Why should I think now: should I return to the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre?"

Alexander admitted that there are limitations to freedom in the USA: "I have encountered a lot in America that limited my freedom. To carry what I want, to speak on any topics, to joke, to think and look at someone differently. Everyone knows what this is about; these are all sorts of new ethical limitations and a large number of changes in Western culture over the past few years."

However, in Molochnikov's opinion, Russia and the USA are incomparable in this regard, at least because in the USA, "elections" and "freedom of speech" are of great importance: "This is all incomparable to Russia. There is no analogy: 'Oh, they are the same,' as our media reacts."

Alexander Molochnikov became the youngest director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre at the age of 22. He also gained fame in Russia by directing the series "Monastery" with Nastya Ivleeva and Mark Eidelstein. Previously, the director was married to Ekaterina Varnava.