Speaking of Art

( Mikhail Romm is a critically acclaimed Soviet director who became famous making movies about Lenin. He started and taught at film school that was responsible for training some of the most incredible Russian directors such as my personal favourite Andrei Tarkvosky)

Romm admired the non-conformist, the eccentric and the independent thinker.

When Sergei Soloviev ( sometimes spelt Solovyov) applied to the school, it is said, he was accused of plagiarism. The admissions committee refused to take his oral examination. The brilliantly conceived script he wrote could not be his own, they said.

" Prove it ", said Mikhail Romm

One examiner said the work was a Pavstovsky story. Another claimed it was Bunin, yet another, Prishovin. Romm sent them to the library to substantiate their claims. The case could not be proved. When Soloviev appeared before them, Romm conducted the questioning.

Romm: " Have you read any books?"
Soloviev: " Yes"
Romm : "Do you have any favourites?"
Soloviev : " Yes"
Romm : " Do you want to be a film director?"
Soloviev: " Yes"
Romm:" See he answered all the questions correctly. I give him full marks."

Romm makes sense, the committee does not. The longer I am in university the more I realize Romm is not here and the committee has taken over.

* Excerpt from the book " The Soviet film Phenomena"