Film writer Viktor Merezhko

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

For several decades now, works by Viktor Merezhko have enjoyed the constant attention of the public. Films based on his scripts have been watched by millions of viewers in Russia and far beyond its borders. What are the secrets of the famous master's success?

Biography Facts

The future playwright, actor and director Viktor Merezhko was born in 1937 in the Rostov region. He was born into a family of modest rural employees, who for a long time teetered on the brink of poverty. The path to the profession was not very close for Victor. He changed several speci alties and jobs, graduated from the Printing Department in the city of Lvov, before entering the screenwriting department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in 1964.

Victor Merezhko was able to feel the taste of the first significant professional success even before completing his education - the first film according to his script was put into production when its author was only a second-year student. It would seem that great prospects are opening up ahead.

After college

Despite a good start, the playwright's career was not easy and cloudless. After graduating from VGIK, Viktor Merezhko works hard and hard, butfor several years he cannot turn any of his scripts into a film. At this time, he had to live in Moscow with his wife and small children in a rented apartment. Only in 1972, Lenfilm staged a film based on Merezhko's script "Hello and Farewell". This melodrama was favorably received by the audience and noticed by critics. It clearly outlined the characteristic features of the author, which the screenwriter Viktor Merezhko is still famous for to this day.

This is close attention to the moral problems of interpersonal relations, careful study of characters, logic in building and developing storylines, responsiveness to social conflicts growing in society.

In Soviet times

The playwright's tireless long-term work could not but lead to a logical result. Screenwriter Viktor Merezhko is gradually gaining authority in Soviet cinema. His work is becoming more and more popular. Leading masters of Russian cinema undertake to implement Merezhko's scripts. Only one list of films is impressive, the plot, dramaturgy and characters of which were developed and proposed for implementation on the screen by Viktor Merezhko: “Citizen Nikanorova is waiting for you”, “A lonely woman wants to meet you”, “Flying in a dream and in reality”, “Relatives”. In total, more than fifty films were shot according to the scripts of the playwright. Many of them are rightfully recognized as classics of Soviet and Russian cinema. And besides, there were short films,animated films, theatrical plays, great community work in the Union of Cinematographers.

In 1987, the playwright was awarded the title of Laureate of the State Prize for the script of the film "Flying in a dream and in reality", where one of his most brilliant roles was played by the famous actor Oleg Yankovsky.

In the post-Soviet period

In the early nineties, during the crisis time of the general collapse, the domestic cinema also experienced hard times. Few films were made, and Hollywood products dominated the screens. The new Russian cinema was faced with the task of finding ways out of this difficult situation. New formats were needed to meet the requirements of the times. First of all, television series have become such a format.

Film writer Viktor Merezhko is the author of two significant works in this direction. These are the crime series "The Mole" and "Sonka the Golden Hand". In addition, since the early nineties, the playwright himself often acts in films according to his scripts in supporting roles. In addition, Viktor Merezhko is the author and director of several projects on central television. Publishes books with theatrical plays and scripts.

Since the mid-nineties, he has been the head of the management of the Kaskad television company. In 2014, Viktor Merezhko was awarded the honorary title People's Artist of the Russian Federation. And by no means is going to stop there. Currentlythere are several projects on the writer's desk that will eventually turn into new films on the big screen and on television.

Viktor Merezhko: the personal life of the playwright

The famous playwright was legally married only once. They lived with his wife Tamara for almost thirty years. After her death from a sudden and incurable illness, Viktor Merezhko stayed with his son and daughter. Of course, there were women in his life. But Victor was in no hurry to put a new stamp in his passport. He preferred to remain a free and independent artist, known in the cinematic world as Viktor Merezhko. His wives had only informal relations with him.