Iosif Yefimovich Kheifits ( be, Іосіф Яўхімавіч Хейфіц; – 24 April 1995) was a Soviet film director, winner of two Stalin Prizes (1941, 1946), People's Artist of USSR (1964), Hero of Socialist Labor (1975). Member of the Communist Party of Soviet Union since 1945.

Life and career

Kheifets was born 17 December 1905 in Minsk. In 1927 he graduated from the Leningrad Technical-screen art, and in 1928 - cinema faculty of Institute of History of Art. In 1928, Iosif Kheifets came to work at the film studio "Sovkino" (now -

Lenfilm Lenfilm (russian: link=no, Ленфильм) is a Russian production company with its own film studio located in Saint Petersburg (the city was called Leningrad from 1924 to 1991, thus the name). It is a corporation with its stakes shared betwee ...

Studio). In film, he first made his debut as a

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, with Aleksandr Ivanov and

Aleksandr Zarkhi Aleksandr Grigoryevich Zarkhi (russian: Александр Григорьевич Зархи; 18 February 1908 – 27 January 1997) was a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter. People's Artist of the USSR (1969). Hero of Socialist ...

he created the scripts for films "Moon on the left" and "Transportation of fire". Then, Iosif Kheifits became a director, while from 1928 to 1950 he worked with Alexander Zarkhi, headed the 1st Komsomol stage brigade of the Leningrad factory "Sovkino" (now Lenfilm Studio), releasing films on the Soviet youth- "Wind in the face"(1930), "Noon" (1931), the comedy "

Hectic Days Red Army Days (russian: Горячие денечки, Goryachie denyochki) is a 1935 Soviet comedy film directed by Alexander Zarkhi and Iosif Kheifits. Plot In the provincial town for exercises come tank units of the Red Army. Tank commande ...

" (1935). " Baltic Deputy" (1937), with deep historical and psychological truth, great artistic power, showed how great Russian scientist Professor Polezhayev (referring to

Kliment Timiryazev Kliment Arkadievich Timiryazev (russian: Климент Аркадьевич Тимирязев, surname sometimes transliterated as Timiriazev; – 28 April 1920) was a Russian Imperial botanist and physiologist and a major proponent of the ...

, starring

Nikolay Cherkasov Nikolay Konstantinovich Cherkasov (russian: Никола́й Константи́нович Черка́сов; 14 September 1966) was a Soviet and Russian actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1947). Career He was born in Saint Petersburg (lat ...

) joined October revolution. A significant piece of cinema became "Member of the Government" (1939), film centered on the image of a Russian peasant woman (starring Vera Maretskaya), who took the difficult path from a farmhand to a deputy of the

Supreme Soviet The Supreme Soviet (russian: Верховный Совет, Verkhovny Sovet, Supreme Council) was the common name for the legislative bodies (parliaments) of the Soviet socialist republics (SSR) in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ...

. Together with Zarkhi he set such films as "His name is Sukhebaator" (1942), "Malakhov Kurgan" (1944), the documentary "The defeat of Japan" (1945). In 1950s he directed such famous films as "

A Big Family ''A Big Family'' (russian: Больша́я семья́, translit. Bolshaya semya) is a 1954 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. It was based on Vsevolod Kochetov's novel ''Zhur ...

", " Rumyantsev Case", "My dear man". Then Iosif Kheifits turned towards the Russian classics, filmed works of

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

, Ivan Turgenev, Aleksandr Kuprin - " Lady with the Dog", "Good bad man", "Asya", "Shurochka". In 1970 his film ''

Hail, Mary! ''Hail, Mary!'' (russian: Салют, Мария!, Salyut, Maria!) is a 1970 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits. It was entered into the 7th Moscow International Film Festival where Ada Rogovtseva won the award for Best Actress. Plot ...

'' entered the

7th Moscow International Film Festival The 7th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 20 July to 3 August 1971. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Italian film ''Confessions of a Police Captain'' directed by Damiano Damiani, the Japanese film ''Live Today, Die Tomorrow!'' ...

. In 1975 he was a member of the jury at the

9th Moscow International Film Festival The 9th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1975. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Polish film '' The Promised Land'' directed by Andrzej Wajda, the Soviet-Japanese film ''Dersu Uzala'' directed by Akira Kurosawa a ...

. Deep disclosure of the inner nature of characters, fine understanding of cinematic language and expressive details cab be listed as distinctive features of his work. His films brightly and und unexpectedly opened creative individualities of may actors, such as Iya Savvina, Alexei Batalov, Anatoly Papanov,

Oleg Dal Oleg Ivanovich Dal (russian: Олег Иванович Даль; 25 May 1941 – 3 March 1981) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. He acted in films, from classics of drama to fairy tales and adventures. His most popular works inclu ...

, Vladimir Vysotsky,

Lyudmila Maksakova Lyudmila Vasilyevna Maksakova (russian: Людмила Васильевна Максакова; born 26 September 1940) is a Soviet Russian stage and film actress who appeared in 24 films between 1965 and 1998. Honoured with the People's Artist ...

Ada Rogovtseva Ada Rogovtseva (born 16 July 1937) is a Ukrainian-Soviet actress. She has appeared in over 30 films and television shows since 1957. Professor at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, National University of Culture. She won the award ...

Elena Koreneva Yelena Alekseyevna Koreneva (russian: Еле́на Алексе́евна Ко́ренeва; born October 3, 1953, Moscow) is a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress, writer, film director and screenwriter. Yelena Koreneva starred in more th ...

Stanislav Sadalskiy Stanislav Yurievich Sadalsky (russian: Станисла́в Ю́рьевич Сада́льский; born 8 August 1951 in Chuvashia) is a Soviet and Russian actor. Selected filmography * ''The Twelve Chairs'' (Двенадцать стулье� ...

. Many times the director's work were honored with various film awards, including Cannes Film Festival. Last work of Heifits was dramatic film 'Vagrant Bus", which was released in 1989. Iosif Kheifits died 24 April 1995. He was buried at the cemetery in

Komarovo Komarovo may refer to: *Komarovo, Saint Petersburg, a municipal settlement under jurisdiction of Saint Petersburg, Russia * Komarovo, Novgorod Oblast, a former urban-type settlement in Novgorod Oblast Novgorod Oblast (russian: Новгоро́ ...

Filmography

Directing work

Assistant director

* 1928 - Luna Sleva (The Moon Is to the Left) * 1930 - Transport Ognya (Transport of Fire)

Director

* 1930 -

Wind in the Face Wind in the Face (russian: Ветер в лицо, Veter v litso) is a 1930 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits and Aleksandr Zarkhi. Plot The film tells about a group of Komsomol members who, in the early 1920s, remake the beer hall u ...

* 1931 - Noon * 1933 - My Motherland * 1935 -

* 1936 - Baltic Deputy * 1939 -

Member of the Government Member of the Government (russian: Член правительства, Chlen pravitelstva) is a 1939 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits and Aleksandr Zarkhi. Plot Aleksandra Sokolova, the wife of a peasant and a former farm laborer ...

* 1942 -

His Name Is Sukhe-Bator His Name Is Sukhe-Bator, (russian: Его зовут Сухэ-Батор) is a 1942 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits and Aleksandr Zarkhi. Plot The film tells about the founder of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Damdin S ...

* 1944 -

The Last Hill The Last Hill, (russian: Малахов курган) is a 1944 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits and Aleksandr Zarkhi. Plot The film tells about five sailors fighting on Malakhov Kurgan for Sevastopol. Starring * Nikolay Kryuchk ...

* 1946 - ''

In the Name of Life ''In the Name of Life'' (russian: Во имя жизни, Vo imya zhizni) is a 1947 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits and Aleksandr Zarkhi and starring Viktor Khokhryakov, Mikhail Kuznetsov and Oleg Zhakov.Liehm / Liehm p.53 Plot Thre ...

'' * 1948 - The precious grains * 1950 - ''

The Lights of Baku ''The Lights of Baku'' (russian: Огни Баку, Ogni Baku) is a 1950 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits, Rza Tahmasib and Aleksandr Zarkhi.Rollberg p.500 The film portrays workers in the oil fields of Azerbaijan during the Second Worl ...

'' * 1953 - '' Spring in Moscow'' * 1954 - ''

'' * 1955 - ''

The Rumyantsev Case ''The Rumyantsev Case'' (russian: Дело Румянцева) is a 1955 Soviet crime film directed by Iosif Kheyfits. Plot Young truck-driver Sasha Rumyantsev, trying to avoid running over a child, has an accident, his car crashes into a brick w ...

'' * 1958 -

My Beloved ''My Beloved'' is a 2012 Philippine television drama romance fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Dominic Zapata and Lore Reyes, it stars Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. It premiered on February 13, 2012 on the network's Tele ...

* 1961 - The Horizon * 1960 - Lady with the Dog * 1963 - Day of Happiness * 1966 -

In S. City ''In S. City'' (russian: В городе С., V gorode S.) is a 1966 Soviet drama film directed by Iosif Kheifits. Film adaptation of Anton Chekhov's short story ''Ionych''. Plot The film tells about a young and dreamy doctor who moves to city S ...

* 1971 -

* 1973 - Bad good man * 1975 - The only one * 1977 - Asya * 1979 - First Time Married * 1983 - Shurotchka * 1986 - The Accused * 1988 - Whose Are You, Old People? * 1989 -

Vagrant bus ''Vagrant Bus'' (russian: Бродячий автобус, Brodyachiy avtobus) is a 1990 Soviet drama film, filmed at the studio Lenfilm by the director Iosif Kheifits. Story The film tells about the artists one theater. This is a wandering troupe ...

Written scenarios

* 1928 - Moon on the left * 1935 - Hot denechki * 1939 - Member of the Government * 1944 - Malakhov Kurgan * 1986 - Defendant * 1989 - Vagrant bus

Awards and prizes

* Stalin Prize, second class (1941); for the film "Baltic Deputy" (1936) * Stalin Prize of the first degree (1946); for the documentary "The defeat of Japan" (1945) * People's Artist of the USSR (1964) * Hero of Socialist Labor (1975)

References

External links

* *
Film Reference
- Heifitz, Iosif {{DEFAULTSORT:Kheifits, Iosif 1905 births 1995 deaths Film people from Minsk People from Minsky Uyezd Belarusian Jews Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Soviet film directors Soviet screenwriters Male screenwriters High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors faculty Socialist realist artists People's Artists of the USSR Heroes of Socialist Labour Recipients of the Order of Lenin Stalin Prize winners Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples