Aleksandr Misharin

Aleksandr Nikolaevich Misharin (Russian: Александр Николаевич Мишарин) (6 April 1939 — 13 April 2008) was a Soviet and Russian screenwriter, playwright, novelist, actor and chief editor of Russian periodicals. Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2000). A close friend of Andrei Tarkovsky with whom he wrote several screenplays, including The Mirror.

Aleksandr Misharin was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR into a mixed Russian-German family. His father served in military. In 1960 Misharin graduated from the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School, and in 1962 he finished the High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors. He met Andrei Veytsler while studying at the Shchepkin's drama school. Also a descendant of a noble Russian-German family, Veytsler turned into his regular collaborator for many years. Together they wrote their first dramatic poem A Song of Wind (1959) for the Maly Theatre, as well as other plays such as Hamlet from the Flat № 13 (1961), Winter Ballad (1970), Livelong Day (1973), One Yard Chronicles (1978) and others.

After the institute both of them were sent to work for the Youth Theater in Tver. One of their plays — Dangerous Silence (1963) — was noticed by Nikolay Okhlopkov who made it into a critically acclaimed stage play for the Mayakovsky Theatre, with Misharin performing in one of the minor roles. In addition they produced a number of screenplays and radio plays. The 1977 family comedy Mustached Nanny directed by Vladimir Grammatikov became one of the Soviet box office leaders. It was released shortly after Veytsler's sudden death in 1975. Misharin continued to work alone. His most successful solo play was Silver Wedding (1985) which was staged by Oleg Yefremov at the Moscow Art Theatre. The play gained enormous success at the time of release, and for many people it marked the beginning of new times, or perestroika.

In 1964 he got acquainted with Andrei Tarkovsky who happened to be his neighbor. They became good friends soon, but hadn't worked together up till 1968 when they started writing a screenplay for The Mirror movie which, according to Misharin, was finished in just two weeks. Nevertheless, Tarkovsky wasn't given permission to direct it up until 1974. In the meantime he made the much acclaimed Solaris film that featured Misharin in the episodic role. The Mirror was finally made in 1974, with Misharin playing another small part. It became director's landmark work and is often listed among the greatest movies of the world cinema. Tarkovsky and Misharin worked on several other screenplays, including Sardor (1978) and a biographical film about Fyodor Dostoyevsky, although most of them weren't screened for various reasons described in the Tarkovsky's diaries.

Misharin was critical of his friend's decision to leave the country which he called a «creative mistake» influenced by the overrated expectations as well as his second wife Larisa Tarkovskaya whom he described as mentally unstable and blamed for manipulating her husband. According to Misharin, Tarkovsky actually planned a divorce shortly before the emigration happened, but Larisa convinced him not only to stay with her, but also to stay in Europe.

A member of the Union of Soviet Writers since 1967. As a writer he published several novels, including Ruined City Guide (the 1960s), Career (1989), White, White Day (2003) and The Voice (2005). In 1990 he was appointed as a chief editor of the Sunday magazine, and in 1991 he headed the New Russia magazine (formerly known as Sovetsky Soyuz, closed in just a year).

Aleksandr Misharin died on April 13, 2008. He was buried at the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery.