Original subtitles

Lenfilm

First Creative Union

Viktor Avilov

Anna Demyanenko

Mikhail Kozakov

in the film

Mister Designer

"The Dying Love"

Directed by Oleg Teptsov

Fog beyond the dim, benighted window Heavy hangings at the door

St-Petersburg, 1908

Success, success no doubt!

-Platon Andreyevich, author asks for you -If he needs me, he can come downstairs

Platon Andreyevich, one moment please!..

You wish all this to be displayed in the shop window?

Not very interesting

We have nothing to hide, Platon Andreyevich

but with full confidence in your taste, if you are of a different opinion...

This item...

That!

Adding to this a few strings of pearls

The times of Solomon's opulence are gone

What matters is not the number of jewels but their concordance with the display

and with the mannequin's dress

but I won't impose myself

I agree, Platon Andreyevich but understand my position...

my business starts with the store window and if the client does not stop...

He'll stop

Trust me, you won't find a better shop window in entire Saint Petersburg

But I can't let you take it with you

No need, I memorized it

You don't need any old women?

Oh, such joy, your Excellency!

I thought you wouldn't come, would dupe us...

Over here, please!

What is your name?

Beletskaya, Anna Grigoryevna

You are of course a famous and educated man, unlike us...

The bracelet!

...but allow me to inquire: why display a child?

This child will bring you a fortune

St-Petersburg, 1914

Put the automobile closer and wait

No receptions until the end of the week

And we had an agreement on deferment of payment

- 3 weeks remain until payment - All right, I shall stop by in a week

Wait a moment, do you wish to commission something? This changes everything!

Come in please!

I need my house decorated

He can do a house. Do you know that a house is a continuation of its owner?

Macrocosm, microcosm... comprenez?

Where is your house located?

- On the islands - Particularly on the islands!

Tell me, my good man, what of your master? Is he not well?

Occupied. You know how artists are: one creative concept gives way to another

I do know...

I once came across their Circle's manifesto in Germany...

something like "Union of heavenly and earthly in the holy act of creativity"

Unification and also transformation

Transformation of vulgar living matter in a Creation of Art

Why don't you sit down

Platon Andreyevich!

A customer is here...

a fat cat that needs to be fleeced

Platon Andreyevich, if you don't agree, your property will be auctioned off

Be quiet!

Platon Andreyevich, dear fellow, if not for yourself, have some pity for me

What am I to do without you? Go to my grave?

There...

There you go

So?

What do you think?

It will be impossible to paint here... bad lighting

Hasn't... your secretary explained... the purpose of my visit?

A portrait? Or a sculpture, I don't recall?

I didn't summon you for a portrait I want you to decorate this house

Then you got the wrong person

I do not decorate houses I have other goals

I heard you are trying to create something better than what God has made

Don't speak of what you don't understand

I know all this from my wife She understands these things much better

It was she who insisted that I invite you

- So, Mister...? - Grilliot, if you please

- Nothing the Creator has made is suitable for human life... - Really?

Extracting a parlor out of this space requires much time and effort...

and what of the man himself?

I spent my life trying to prolong his days on canvas or in marble. And then?

Who values my work?

It seems you are famous all over Europe

Sorry Grilliot, but you're an amateur

What of my fame if everything is falling apart?

- Why is that? - Because!

Because I can't be everywhere at once

You know that one, with an aureole around his head?

- Well, he's my rival - Oh, I see!

But tell no one, shhh!

He creates, and I have to fix it

For instance, He'll create this house and fill it with snails and frogs

and I will put in a fireplace, all the snails will vanish from the heat

- You understand? - Trying to... - You don't understand a thing

...or He'll create a human being: an antique beauty with smooth skin

And then? This Antinous will drop dead from some silly fever

Are you saying you can cure fevers?

My job is not to cure, but to make that Antinous invincible to all fevers

But that one with the aureole, he keeps prevailing over me

- He's stronger for now... - For now?

So, what about the house?

A house is a continuation of its owner, and I can't tackle it not knowing you

Well, if you must know, I was born here, in Petersburg, I am half-foreigner...

Traveled a lot, got tired, and wish to find piece in my new retreat

- That's not enough. What do you do? - I have my... business

Credit, debit, Stock Market Herald... No...

Nice meeting you, but take me home

In that case, perhaps you could at least advise me on what to do about it all

If you wish, but only advise. I'll send you a consulting bill by mail

...Finally, let me show you my wife's unique collection

It must be located next to her bedroom

in a separate room - such is her wish

Anya?

My name is Maria

This is my wife. Make her acquaintance.

I'm Platon Andreyevich

No, really, maybe I'm confused, but...

do you remember: 1908, the Sands, you were sick in bed, and I was sculpting...

The Sands?

Where is this, dear?

Far away, on the other side of the city

No, I weren't in Petersburg in 1908

Of course. Forgive me, sir, madam

That is all... that is all

Now then, who do you suggest I contact about all this?

There aren't any good designers nowadays

I'll do it... but I have to warn you: don't be stingy with me

Say, Platon Andreyevich, my wife really reminds you of someone?

As to the house... I think we'll start with the fireplace

Just not in Marie's bedroom...

My wife can't stand them for some reason

Oh, Maria Alekseevna, it's a shame to kill living things

I like them because they can fly

Anna Grigoryevna, why keep pretending that you don't recognize me?

But I really don't!

Are you are angry that I didn't pay you for the posing?

But you left so abruptly...

I'm not asking how you escaped poverty, how you ended up with that... monger

Very well, think what you want, but do not ever call me Anna

- So you are... you? - Of course, I am me!

Thank God, because I started thinking I was losing my mind

Think nothing of it from now on

And I don't like artists...

They always imagine things, like you imagining some Anna

Yes?

I am returning my debt to you

You like this, dear?

Charming... quite charming...

- How much do we owe you? - Nothing

This rightly belongs to you... alive

You are the strangest person who has ever frequented us, isn't he, dear?

Put it in the wardrobe

So, you say we have never met before?

Take a look

- Is this some artist? - That artist is me

You drew this recently

It's a 1910 edition, and it's 1914 now, so you'd be ill-advised to argue with me

There, the draught will be excellent!

Tell me... what do you know... of my wife's past?

You know, Mr. Grilliot, such discussions are not stipulated by my contract

You must, you are obligated to tell me

I have no obligations toward anyone

What if I ask... humbly? Kneeling before you?

Why kneel?

You should put a gun to my head, and pull the trigger if I don't answer

Or lose your mind

You are discharged

But the house is not even half-finished!

I'll hire another artist. Have a nice day, Mr. Designer

- It's over, I've been sacked - Ah, it's all your vanity!

Remember, it's no longer 1908, and your public lost interest

- I live not in the past but the future - Then you live for the debt prison

Boor!

- Have you found another artist already? - I think, not yet

I spoke badly to M. Grilliot, extend my apologies to him

And tell him that I'm ready to resume my contract, even for a smaller amount

even half...

it is robbery of course...

but in my situation... I agree

I doubt he'll agree

Stop by sometime

Enough!

I've had enough of your mystifications!

Remember, how 6 years ago I tried to pull you out of misery

but I didn't want you to be a courtesan for such revolting worms like Grilliot!

- What is it you want? - Persuade him to renew the contract

I am heartbroken to see him turn you into a thing

Grilliot is a very kind man

- And rich? - And rich

Tell me then...

If I became rich again, would there be hope for me?

Hope for what?

Well, that you leave him and marry me

But you will never be rich

Why is that?

Because you can't get rich with your little pictures

And I could never understand how one can seriously engage in such rubbish

I'm afraid I can't help you

It's my luck

May I try my luck, gentlemen?

You?

What for? I wouldn't advise you to play

Your mind-boggling success inspires hope

So, you decided to switch rivals?

That one, with an aureole, no longer suits you?

But you know, I only play for live cash

What makes you think I don't have any?

Very well...

What, all five?

1000

6000

Ten thousand

One hundred

Three hundred

Make a receipt

500 thousand

700

Well, I'll match, and let's expose

I have a flush royale if you don't mind

And now, show us your puny carr�

So, Grilliot, how do you like this gentleman, ah?

So, do they pay a lot for all this?

It varies, but what matters is the truth that we try to attain by means of art

Remember our last conversation?

I asked you then if you would marry me should I become rich again

Are you proposing?

Anya!

Forget Anna. She is no more.

Look!

A simple mechanism - spring, clockwork, and the doll can move and even smile

This is just wax, but even the devil himself would be proud of it

I stupidly preferred her to the original Between man and doll, I chose the latter

But only my least favorite ones remain

The one I made in your image 6 years ago is not here

Anya?

Anya...

She got away

Got away...

Got away!...

You must be getting old, such misfires never happened to you

Beletskaya, you say? Anya?

I don't recall her...

Maybe she's at Volkovo, but not here

She's not here

Thank God for that

Not here. Sorry I can't help you

Thank you ever so much

Wait a second, maybe here?

Not here!

- Not here - Nor can she be

Here she is. Here she is!

Follow me

I think... here

What is it?

See for yourself

Anna Grigoryevna Beletskaya, 1894-1908

Poor devil, at last you found your piece

My dear!

I'm so happy you came to give him your farewell

I was so afraid you wouldn't come

The stroke occurred the day before yesterday. Forgive me...

...that I left your studio so hastily

but it was your own fault: I was still not used to you

Yes... yes...

I understood a lot since that time

I understood that I could no longer live without you

I've been wanting to ask you: why, for what purpose have you left the store?

The store...

Strange you didn't recognize me thus far Such ingratitude from my own thing!

I do not know why you killed Grilliot Perhaps he figured out your secret, ah?

But you no longer needed him You have squeezed him like a lemon

- How many came before him? - It is you who killed him

Remember, your place is in the shop window

and you will never be a match for the mortal whose rights you have assumed

Fog beyond the dim, benighted window. Heavy hangings at the door.

You have learned what fear is, Don Juan, You don't need your freedom any more.

Empty, cold the bedroom. Not a whisper Can be heard. The servants doze.

From unknown far-off land and blissful, Comes a rooster's crowing. Dawn is close

What is rapture to a faithless being?.. Nothing!.. Life is quick to end.

Arms crossed on her breast, and dreaming Dona Anna steeps, to silence wed.

Whose harsh features, caught by mirrors, In that strange, that glassy deep?

Is there sweetness. Dona Anna, is there, In your graveyard dreams and sleep?

Life is mad, it's empty and abysmal... Into battle, fate, let us make war!

In reply, through storm and blizzard, Comes a horn's triumphant, tender call.

With a light the blackness laving, Like an owl a motor flits, and hark!-

The Commander's footsteps heavy Fill the empty house and dark.

Doors flung open. Those steps unhurried. Like a clock's hoarse midnight chimes:

"You invited me to supper. Are you Ready? Speak! For I am here. On time."

Scathing, scorching question: To it only Silence answer makes. A deep

Fear gripped the room. A cold and lonely Dawn steals up. The servants are asleep.

Pallid twilight. Night is waning, waning Night at dawn is strangely chill.

Maid of Light! Where are you, Dona Anna? Anna! Anna! - All is still.

Grim the ghostly, greyish fog of morning Hear the clock's last, bitter chimes.

Doha Anna sleeps, but she is stirring. When your death hour comes she will rise

Screenplay by Youri Arabov

Directed by Oleg Teptsov

Cinematography by Anatoli Lapshov

Production design by Natalya Vasilyeva

Original music by Sergei Kuryokhin

Sound editing by Aleksandr Gruzdev

Costumes by L. Konnikova

Film Editing by M. Baskakova

Editing technician: Irina Gorokhovskaya

Choreography by: O. Timurshin

Assistant director: B. Pavlov-Silvansky

Camera: S. Nekrasov, L. Golubev

Makeup: N. Petrushenko, T. Frid

Directors group: S. Sereda, G. Pushkova G. Tugusheva, K. Oganesyan

Special effects - camera: L. Krasnova, O. Plaksin

Special effects - artists: O. Kalyagina, I. Chirkunov

Orchestra "Pop-Mekhanika" conducted by Sergei Kuryokhin

Sound recorded using video technology

Video engineers: A. Vernikov, M. Teplyakov

Artists-sculptors: V. Malakhieva, O. Sikorskyi

Artworks: A. Gordin, V. Skonnikov, A. Pavlyuchenko, N. Varfalameeva

N. Heikkinen, S. Eremina, S. Kocharovsky

Artist-decorator: T. Lojkomoeva

Assistants: Costumes: G. Kupavykh Editing: M. Polotskaya, N. Aleksandrova

Photo artist: A. Manukyan

Costumes fitting: L. Baranova

Props: S. Gorodnichenko, M. Pivkina

Gaffer: A. Kaluga

Color technician: V. Maksimova

Administrative group: A. Pak, O. Mukhin, S. Novgorodov, E. Ponikarovskaya

Executive producer: Veniamin Kutikov

Main cast:

Platon Andreyevich: Viktor Avilov

Anna - Maria: Anna Demyanenko

Grilliot: Mikhail Kozakov

Rest of cast:

Servant: I. Krasko

Jeweller: V. Lobanov

Old woman: V. Malakhieva

Cemetery warden: K. Lukashov

Episodes: S. Panfilova, Yu. Aroyan, I. Bulgakov, V. Minyailo, M. Mazurko

O. Timurshin, A. Rodionov, V. Lenin, A. Polyakov, A. Bagirov, E. Smirnov

Yu. Bashkov, Yu. Simonov. V. Romanyuga, A. Gryaznov, I. Shteinberg, V. Vakha

Model: S. Terentyeva

The End

Copyright (C) 1988 by Lenfilm Studio