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Nikolai Nikolaevich Gubenko (russian: Николай Николаевич Губенко; 17 August 1941 – 16 August 2020) was a Soviet and Russian actor, film and
theatre director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre performance, etc. by unifying various endeavors a ...
, screenwriter, founder of the Community of Taganka Actors theatre. His movie ''
Wounded Game ''Wounded Game'' (russian: Подранки, Podranki) is a 1977 Soviet drama film directed by Nikolai Gubenko. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Juozas Budraitis * Aleksandr Kalyagin * Zhanna Bolotova * Rolan Bykov * ...
'' was entered into the
1977 Cannes Film Festival The 30th Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 27 May 1977. The Palme d'Or went to the ''Padre Padrone'' by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. A new non-competitive section, "Le Passé composé", is held at this festival only and focuses on compilatio ...
. He was named
People's Artist of the RSFSR People's Artist of the RSFSR (russian: Народный артист РСФСР, ''Narodnyj artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet Union artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchest ...
in 1985.Cinema: Encyclopedia Dictionary, main ed.
Sergei Yutkevich Sergei Iosifovich Yutkevich (russian: Серге́й Ио́сифович Ютке́вич, 28 December 1904 – 23 April 1985) was a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter. He was a People's Artist of the USSR (1962) and a Hero of ...
(1987). — Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, p. 108 Gubenko was also active in politics. He served as the last Minister of Culture of the USSR (1989–1991) and as the Russian State Duma deputy between 1995 and 2003. From 2005 on he acted as the
Moscow City Duma The Moscow City Duma (russian: Московская городская дума, Moskovskaya gorodskaya duma) is the regional parliament ( city duma) of Moscow, a federal subject and the capital city of Russia. As Moscow is one of three fede ...
deputy.Anna Kisselgoff
The New Minister Of Soviet Culture Takes Truth as Task
article at
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
, 27 December 1989


Early life

Nikolai Gubenko was born in the
Odessa Catacombs The Odesa Catacombs are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels (subterranean cavities) located under the city of Odesa and its outskirts in Ukraine, that are mostly (over 90%) the result of stone mining, particularly coquina.Bachynska, O. Odesa Cataco ...
during the Defence of Odessa, the youngest of five children.
, 2011 (in Russian) His mother was
Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
and his father – a native
Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...
; both of them died in 1942 during the
Great Patriotic War The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe (Baltics), and Sou ...
. His father joined the
Soviet Air Forces The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
before Nikolai was born and was killed in action near
Voroshilovgrad Luhansk (, ; uk, Луганськ, ), also known as Lugansk (, ; russian: Луганск, ), is a city in what is internationally recognised as Ukraine, although it is administered by Russia as capital of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). A ...
. His mother, a chief designer at one of the local plants, was interrogated during the
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
-
Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...
n occupation of Odessa and killed after she refused to collaborate; her body was returned to Nikolai's grandfather "with traces of hanging"., 2009 (in Russian) All of Gubenko's siblings were adopted, while he was left with his grandparents who sent him to the Odessa
orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or ab ...
after the war. Then he joined a special boarding school with a focus on English language. Upon graduation he was supposed to enter the Military Institute of Foreign Languages, but it was closed in 1955 following
Nikita Khrushchev Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and chairman of the country's Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964. During his rule, Khrushchev s ...
's war reform. After that, in 1958 he joined the Odessa
Young Spectator's Theatre Young Spectator's Theatre (Театр Юного Зрителя, ТЮЗ) was a standard name of a theatre for children and youth in many cities of the Soviet Union, usually referred to by this abbreviation: тюз, TYuZ (sometimes translated as "T ...
to work as a
stagehand A stagehand is a person who works backstage or behind the scenes in theatres, film, television, or location performance. Their work include setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production. General S ...
and an extra., the course led by Sergei Gerasimov and
Tamara Makarova Tamara Fyodorovna Makarova (russian: Тама́ра Фёдоровна Мака́рова; 13 August 1907 – 19 January 1997) was a Soviet and Russian film actress and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1950) and Hero of Socialist La ...
which he finished in 1964. During the studies he met his future wife, actress
Zhanna Bolotova Zhanna Andreyevna Bolotova (russian: Жанна Андреевна Болотова; October 10, 1941, Novosibirsk Oblast, USSR) is a Soviet film actress who was popular in the 1970s and the early 1980s. In 1977 she became a USSR State Prize laurea ...
. As a student he performed in one of the leading roles in the cult Soviet movie ''
I Am Twenty ''I Am Twenty'' (russian: Мне двадцать лет, translit. ''Mne dvadtsat let'') is a 1965 drama film directed by Marlen Khutsiev. It is Khutsiev's most famous film and considered a landmark of 1960s Soviet cinema. The film was or ...
'' (originally titled ''Ilyich's Gate'') directed by
Marlen Khutsiev Marlen Martynovich Khutsiev (russian: Марле́н Марты́нович Хуци́ев; 4 October 1925 – 19 March 2019) was a Georgian-born Soviet and Russian filmmaker best known for his cult films from the 1960s, which include '' I Am Twe ...
. It had a long, troubled production history. Finished in 1962, it was screened at the Moscow Kremlin and greatly angered Nikita Khrushchev who compared it to an ideological diversion and criticized it for "ideas and norms of public and private life that are entirely unacceptable and alien to Soviet people". The final cut was released only in 1965, when Gubenko had already graduated. He played
Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
in his diploma play based on Bertolt Brecht's ''
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (german: Der aufhaltsame Aufstieg des Arturo Ui, links=no), subtitled "A parable play", is a 1941 play by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. It chronicles the rise of Arturo Ui, a fictional 1930s Chicago ...
''. As Gubenko later recalled, he invested all his hate towards the man responsible for the deaths of his parents into the role. His performance turned so powerful that
Yuri Lyubimov Yuri Petrovich Lyubimov (russian: Ю́рий Петро́вич Люби́мов; 5 October 2014) was a Soviet and Russian stage actor and director associated with the internationally renowned Taganka Theatre, which he founded in 1964. He was on ...
who visited the play immediately made him an offer to join the
Taganka Theatre Taganka Theatre (russian: link=no, Театр на Таганке, Театр драмы и комедии на Таганке, "Таганка") is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. History The Drama an ...
, even though Gubenko had studied to be a film actor. He served there from 1964 until the end of the 1960s when he decided to dedicate himself to cinema and entered director's courses at VGIK, also led by Gerasimov and Makarova, which he finished in 1970. Between 1971 and 1988 Gubenko directed six movies. The first, ''A Soldier Returns from the Front'', was awarded the
Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR The Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR was an annual State Prize established by the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in 1965. Three Vasilyev Brothers prizes were awarded annually from 1966 until 1990 for cinematographic works of all kinds ( ...
. His 1976 ''
Wounded Game ''Wounded Game'' (russian: Подранки, Podranki) is a 1977 Soviet drama film directed by Nikolai Gubenko. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Juozas Budraitis * Aleksandr Kalyagin * Zhanna Bolotova * Rolan Bykov * ...
'' (or ''Podranki'') was based on his own original screenplay. The story covered the lives of orphans in the post-war Odessa. According to Gubenko, it was 50/50 autobiographical and included many personal details. Fifteen leading roles were performed by real orphans — he had watched thousands of children from orphanages and boarding schools all over the country. The film was seen by 20.3 million people and was entered into the
1977 Cannes Film Festival The 30th Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 27 May 1977. The Palme d'Or went to the ''Padre Padrone'' by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. A new non-competitive section, "Le Passé composé", is held at this festival only and focuses on compilatio ...
. It was also awarded the bronze Hugo prize at the 1977
Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...
. In 1987 Gubenko returned to the
Taganka Theatre Taganka Theatre (russian: link=no, Театр на Таганке, Театр драмы и комедии на Таганке, "Таганка") is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. History The Drama an ...
following the death of
Anatoly Efros Anatoly Vasilievich Efros (russian: Анатолий Васильевич Эфрос; July 3, 1925, Kharkiv — January 13, 1987, Moscow) was a Soviet theatre and film director. He was a leading interpreter of Russian classics during the Era of S ...
. He headed it, started resurrecting old plays and at the same time used all his influence to help
Yuri Lyubimov Yuri Petrovich Lyubimov (russian: Ю́рий Петро́вич Люби́мов; 5 October 2014) was a Soviet and Russian stage actor and director associated with the internationally renowned Taganka Theatre, which he founded in 1964. He was on ...
return to the USSR.''
Leonid Filatov Leonid Alekseyevich Filatov ( rus, links=no, Леонид Алексеевич Филатов, p=lʲɪɐˈnʲit əlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ fʲɪˈlatəf, a=Lyeonid Alyeksyeyevich Filatov.ru.vorb.oga; 24 December 1946 – 26 October 2003) was a ...
(2007)''. Direct Speech. — Moscow: AST, pp. 180—187 Maria Sedykh
The Taganka dead end
article at Itogy magazine №14, 8 April 2013 (in Russian) As soon as Lyubimov's citizenship was restored, he left the director's chair, but remained in the theatre as an actor. He was also offered the seat of the Minister of Culture of the USSR, becoming the first Soviet arts professional to hold a similar post since
Anatoly Lunacharsky Anatoly Vasilyevich Lunacharsky (russian: Анато́лий Васи́льевич Лунача́рский) (born Anatoly Aleksandrovich Antonov, – 26 December 1933) was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and the first Bolshevik Soviet People ...
in 1917. He served from 1989 to 1991 when the dissolution of the Soviet Union occurred, and so he was the last Soviet Minister of Culture. In 1992 a split happened at Taganka following Lyubimov's contract being sent to the Moscow mayor Gavrill Popov for signature, where he basically suggested that the theatre should be privatized by attracting "foreign colleagues", and move to the contract system. This would have allowed him to hire or fire actors at any time, while all the inner conflicts would be resolved at the International Court.Sergei Samoshin
Taganka Theatre decided to abolish Yuri Lyubimov
article at
Kommersant ''Kommersant'' (russian: Коммерсантъ, , ''The Businessman'' or Commerce Man, often shortened to Ъ) is a nationally distributed daily newspaper published in Russia mostly devoted to politics and business. The TNS Media and NRS Russia ...
, 20 January 1992 (in Russian) Lyubimov himself spent most of his time abroad and refused to talk with the actors. At one point he attended a meeting and got into an argument with Gubenko who took the side of the protesters and was fired. Yet he continued acting in the play ''Vladimir Vysotsky'' based around
Vladimir Vysotsky Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky ( rus, links=no, Владимир Семёнович Высоцкий, p=vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr sʲɪˈmʲɵnəvʲɪtɕ vɨˈsotskʲɪj; 25 January 1938 – 25 July 1980), was a Soviet singer-songwriter, poet, and actor ...
's songs. Lyubimov then sought the help of
OMON OMON (russian: ОМОН – Отряд Мобильный Особого Назначения , translit = Otryad Mobil'nyy Osobogo Naznacheniya , translation = Special Purpose Mobile Unit, , previously ru , Отряд Милиции Осо ...
to ban him from entering and canceled the play. After that Gubenko left along with 35 other actors and founded his own non-state theatre – the Community of Taganka Actors which he managed until his death, taking part as an actor, stage director and playwright. In 2008 it received state status.Resolution № 947-ПП from 14 October 2008
at the Moscow Portal (in Russian)


Selected filmography


References


Literature

*''Nikolai Gubenko (2014)''. Theatre of the Absurd. Plays on the Political Scene. — Moscow: Algorythm, 256 pages *''Evgeny Gromov (2012)''. Nikolai Gubenko. Director and Actor. — Moscow: Algorythm, 288 pages


External links

*

article at
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
, 6 December 1990
Monologue in 4 Parts. Nikolai Gubenko
documentary by
Russia-K Russia-K (russian: Россия Культура, translit=Rossiya Kul'tura "Russia - Culture") is a Russian nationwide not-for-profit television channel that broadcasts shows regarding arts and culture. It belongs to the state-controlled VGTRK ...
, 2018 (in Russian)
Nikolai Gubenko. I accept the fight
documentary by TV Centre, 2011 (in Russian) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gubenko, Nikolai 1941 births 2020 deaths 20th-century Russian male actors 20th-century Russian politicians 21st-century Russian male actors 21st-century Russian politicians Academicians of the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Russia Actors from Odesa Communist Party of the Russian Federation members Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography alumni Male screenwriters People's Artists of the RSFSR Culture ministers of the Soviet Union Recipients of the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR Soviet theatre directors Russian male dramatists and playwrights Russian male stage actors Russian male voice actors Russian people of Ukrainian descent 20th-century Russian screenwriters 20th-century Russian male writers Soviet film directors Soviet male film actors Soviet male stage actors Soviet male voice actors Soviet screenwriters Russian actor-politicians Film people from Odesa Deputies of Moscow City Duma Second convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation) Third convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation) Russian theatre directors