Vladimir Zheleznikov: writer and screenwriter. The story "Scarecrow"

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

Vladimir Zheleznikov is the author of books for children and teenagers. In his works, this writer talked about the life of contemporary boys and girls, about the difficult life situations in which they find themselves. In his books, he attached special importance to mutual understanding in relations between people.

About how Vladimir Zheleznikov became a writer

The biography of this person developed in such a way that he could not become a creative person at all. Zheleznikov was born in a military family in 1925. Parents, as is often the case with representatives of this profession, regularly changed their place of residence. And from a young age, Zheleznikov saw before him the image of his father-border guard. It is not surprising that, after graduating from school, the future writer entered the artillery school.

Vladimir Zheleznikov in his childhood saw so many different cities and towns, so often changed friends and classmates, that this experience, combined with literary abilities, took their toll. And, being already an adult, having behind his backlegal education, he entered the Literary Institute. Gorky. Although, in his own words, he began to compose long before that, at the age of nine. It was then that he wrote the first story in his life. But what topic this work was devoted to, and whether it survived at all, is unknown.

Why did he write for children?

Why did the son of a military man, having graduated from an artillery school and received a university education, decide to spend another five years of his life studying at a literary institute? Regarding this circumstance, Vladimir Zheleznikov points out an interesting fact in his memoirs. Writing is not a profession, but a vocation. But one day, still in his youth, Vladimir Karpovich read out his short essay to a highly experienced writer. He criticized the works of an immature prose writer, but nevertheless expressed the opinion that it is possible to learn writing. Whether a professional told the truth or not is not so important. But, while studying at a literary institute, Vladimir Zheleznikov was also forced to work. He found work in the popular children's magazine Murzilka. And it was within the walls of the editorial office of this publication that he found his true calling. One of the best Soviet children's writers began his career here.

Colorful story

While studying in the last year of the institute, Vladimir Zheleznikov published his first collection. The stories were published under the general title "Colorful History". In this book, he first touched on the topicthe formation of the child's personality, which later became the basis in his work.

The life principle - to stand up for the weak and always act according to one's conscience - is reflected in many works of art created by Vladimir Zheleznikov. A writer who creates prose for children and adolescents must first of all be able to reveal the problem of the development of a maturing personality. Zheleznikov always managed to solve this difficult task masterfully.

Zheleznikov's instructive prose

This author can be called a writer for adults and children. The images that are created in his books are complex and vivid. The world of children in the work of Zheleznikov is presented as a kind of adult world. Same problems here. There is also a lack of understanding. It is possible that children brought up on Zheleznikov's stories, having entered adulthood, will be able to avoid many moral mistakes.

Script

Vladimir Zheleznikov is known not only in our country, but also abroad. His books have been translated into many languages. And, without a doubt, such an active person could not limit himself to publishing stories and novels. He made his debut as a screenwriter in 1974. The film "The Eccentric from the Fifth Grade" was released on Soviet screens. And twelve years later, together with director Rolan Bykov, the film Scarecrow was created, which became one of the best children's films of the Soviet era.

Zheleznikov was awarded the State Prize for the scripts for these two films.

Scarecrow

Children are known to be cruel. Anger and injustice breed fear. The child is afraid to be different. This important topic is devoted to the work "Scarecrow", which was written in 1982 by Vladimir Zheleznikov. The photo above is a still from the film based on the story.

The film is still very popular today thanks to the work of the director and the excellent cast. But it is worth paying tribute to the author of the story and the script. Zheleznikov first raised the topic of child cruelty in such a harsh form. Soviet writers and screenwriters who worked in this genre before him preferred to portray the life of schoolchildren in more iridescent colors.

Children in Zheleznikov's book are absolutely real. They are capable of betrayal, deceit and cruelty. But they can also be kind. To do this, they lack only mutual understanding. The story "Scarecrow" is a work about kindness and mercy. But it also teaches to be strong, to be able to resist evil. “Now I am a scientist, I fight back, even when they beat me,” says the main character of the book, Lena Bessoltseva.

Vladimir Zheleznikov is a children's writer whose work will be interesting and useful for every adult to get acquainted with. After all, life values are the same for all ages.

The writer has created more than twenty works of art. As an author and co-author, he took part in the creation of thirteen films. Since 1988, the writer has served as artistic director of the Globus film studio. Passed away December 3, 2015. Buried in Moscow.