"It's hard to be a Serb in Russian cinema!"

A man from the progressive world in medieval Arkanar and a Serbian actor in Russian cinema — Aleksandar Radojicic saw an unexpected parallel between these stories. His Rumata is forced to live in a strange world and hide his true identity, and the actor himself has mastered the Russian language and has become his own in a new country. Radojicic spoke about filming in Iran and how his personal experience helped him understand the Strugatsky character in an exclusive interview with Izvestia before the premiere of the series "It's Hard to be a God" on Wink on September 3.

"I couldn't believe I was going to be a Rumata"

— How did you get acquainted with the Strugatsky novel and what thoughts did it give you? Maybe it's about someone watching us like that, too?

— Unfortunately, I was not familiar with this work before. And when I passed the casting, I read "It's hard to be a God" and was delighted! I wanted to become a part of this world. The book made me think about a lot of things. There's a philosophy there, and for me it's just a very interesting story. Maybe someone is watching us, too. But if not, each of us sees today's world, and it demands that we change it for the better.

Photo: Wink

— Were you surprised by the offer to play the main role?

— Of course! I auditioned for the lead role, but I couldn't believe I was going to be Rumata. Russia is a big country, there are a lot of great actors here, and I kept thinking — why me? But the whole team, the producers, the director Dmitry Tyurin believed in me from the first to the last day more than I did myself. That's why I'm grateful to them for everything. They knew I was going to be a Rumata.

"They didn't want to hire me because I don't speak Russian well"

Actress Tina Stojilkovic — about filming in The Abyss, classes with Zhora Kryzhovnikov and the Serbs in Russian cinema

— How did you cope with the Russian language?

— I started teaching him two years ago. I was 37 years old at the time, and it seemed like it was already impossible to learn a new language. And after a few months, I found myself thinking in Russian every day, even though it wasn't my native language. I learned it quickly because it was necessary from the first day of filming. Practice is a good way. This project has shown me that I am capable of a lot. I thought I couldn't ride a horse. I thought I couldn't do difficult stunts on my own. I thought I couldn't shoot at 40 degrees, I couldn't stand the heat, and it was really hot in Iran. But it turned out that anything is possible — I'm alive, I'm here. And I am very glad that I went this way.

Photo: Wink

— I saw that you have a very impressive battle scene in the first episode. Were you filming without understudies?

"Almost nothing." It was exciting, like my childhood dream. Filming on this scale is not possible in Serbia. And in Russian cinema, it all turned out to be realized. The first scenes were shot in the desert. We literally lived in Arkanar — we didn't have to invent anything. And what a grandiose decoration was built in Moscow! Artists have done everything to ensure that we exist in the Middle Ages, rather than imagine ourselves in it.

— How did you see your hero?

— He is a pure, slightly naive person who believes in people. He has a lot of the child in him. When my daughter was little, I watched her look at this world, and it helped me a lot in creating an image. He changes when he gets to Arkanar, where circumstances test the strength of his beliefs and values. Showing the different sides of Rumata was the most difficult, it was important for me to go through this path with him.

Photo: Wink

"I am very glad to become a part of Russian cinema"

— Would you like your daughter to read this book and watch the series?

- yes. Aya reads a lot and has also started learning Russian. But she doesn't know enough of it yet to understand the whole text, but in the future I would like her to read this story.

Photo: Wink

— Rumata looks like he's from the Middle Ages, but in reality he's a man from a progressive future. He is forced to exist in unusual conditions for himself. As an actor who once came to Russia to shoot, did you feel like a Rumata too? A different language, a different culture, a different filmmaking.

— Of course! For me, I was Don Rumata, you know? It's hard to be a Serb in Russian cinema! I felt like I was a stranger! But my colleagues did everything to make me one of their own. We've become a real family, and I'd really like to work with them more.

Beyond fiction: what turned out to be the premiere night of the series "It's hard to be a God"

The audience was invited to wear special bracelets, walk through a tunnel with neon lights, and then make a moral choice.

— "It's hard to be a God" is not the only new project with your participation. There is also a "Black Silk" ahead. Can you now call Russia your second professional home?

— I can say that now this is my first professional house. I continue to work in Serbia, but I started spending more time in Russia. I am very glad to become a part of Russian cinema.

Photo: Wink

— You have stage work in your homeland. Do you suppose that you will ever play in a Russian theater? And if so, what role?

— I love theater, but I think it's difficult because of my Russian language. Although I thought the same way before "It's hard to be a god." That's why I didn't expect Rumata either. As for the role, I realized that we need to see what life brings. I don't want to make a wish, so as not to be disappointed if it doesn't come true. I think it's better not to wait, but just to work.