He will be here soon: secular Moscow was shown a new "Pinocchio"

For one evening, the October cinema on Arbat turned into a real puppet theater of Karabas-Barabas — with scarlet velvet curtains, dim lights and, of course, the central character of the main New Year's film of the coming year — Pinocchio. About why Svetlana Nemolyaeva wanted to give up the role of the tortoise Tortilla, whether Mark Edelstein plays a dog, what secret is hidden by Lev Zulkarnaev's Duremar, and how secular Moscow met Igor Voloshin's reading of his favorite story — in the Izvestia report.

Who was at the premiere of "Pinocchio"

Two hours before the premiere, Alexey Rybnikov's favorite songs of several generations were played from the speakers. Not only the actors of Igor Voloshin's new film walked the red carpet, but also the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova, Yura Borisov with his wife and children, the stars of today with the stars of the future, growing up. The children pulled their parents by the hands to the photo zones, the adults stopped to look at the scenery and take a picture for memory.

The wide release of the main New Year's tale "Pinocchio" will take place very soon — on January 1, 2026. In the meantime, the whole secular Moscow brought children to the October cinema to see with their own eyes how magic is born. There was a hum in the lobby: someone was discussing the actors, someone was trying to persuade the child not to run away to the next installation, and someone was already humming familiar motifs from a Soviet film.

— We are well aware that the New Year is not an easy one: the audience will be offered many wonderful paintings. But Pinocchio is a character who, as it is fashionable to say now, is in our genetic code. We believe that our fairy tale claims to be one of the most beloved this New Year. And I think this love will last a long time — the picture will be shown on TV just like other films before every New Year," Vadim Smirnov, General Director of NMG Film Distribution, told Izvestia.

According to him, at least 2.5 thousand people came to the premiere.

The new film directed by Igor Voloshin brings together a real dream cast: from young stars — Vita Kornienko, Anastasia Talyzina, Mark Eidelstein, Ruzil Minekaev, Lev Zulkarnaev and Stepan Belozerov — to masters of the stage and cinema Victoria Isakova, Alexander Petrov, Fedor Bondarchuk and Svetlana Nemolyaeva.

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The professionals were shown a fairy tale, which will be released only in 2026.

Surprisingly, the star of the Mayakovsky Theater and the films of Eldar Ryazanov almost refused the role of the tortoise Tortilla.

— When I was offered this job, first of all I was afraid of comparisons. I don't like it when films that have become eternal are repeated. I was afraid of being compared to Rina Zelena. At first, I even thought about refusing, although the offer was very tempting. But when director Igor Voloshin said that this reading of the character would be completely different, I decided to agree," Svetlana Nemolyaeva confessed to Izvestia.

Lev Zulkarnaev, on the contrary, decided not to start at all from the image of a Duremar from a Soviet painting.

— I'm not an idiot to compete with Basov! The task was to create something completely different," the actor told Izvestia.

According to him, Pinocchio is almost a biblical hero who helps other characters find the good in themselves. And Duremar is depressed at the beginning of the story and lives in constant fear of Karabas. And only thanks to the extraordinary wooden boy "turns from a rat-like creature into a harmless mouse."

Who is Artemon?

Igor Voloshin tried to comprehensively enhance the drama of the fairy tale, complicating not only the plot, but also the characters. Each character got their own backstory and motivation. So, the poodle Artemon in the new film turns out to be a boy who got into the Karabas theater by tragic coincidence.

— In the middle of the film, we show why this theater has become a family for us — albeit a bit dysfunctional, but still a family. And we explain why we stay there, despite the humiliations and difficulties that can destroy us. Specifically, my hero, Artemon, is an orphan. He grew up with dogs and therefore, of course, stayed in the theater. This explains some of the canine traits of my character," Mark Edelstein told Izvestia.

One of the most striking tandems in the film was the duet of Basilio the cat performed by Alexander Petrov and Alice the fox — Victoria Isakova. According to the actress, the costumes of Nadezhda Vasilyeva and the scenery of the Italian city, built on the site of the Moskino film park, greatly helped them on the set. The only serious challenge was the cold: filming took place in November.

— It was very cold. We were lucky: it seems that filming started on November 6, and it was snowing. Nothing helped to keep warm. Even special hot water bottles and heaters did not save at night," recalls Victoria Isakova.

Especially for the premiere, a one-and-a-half-meter Pinocchio figurine was installed in the lobby against a background of red velvet curtains. Opposite is a whole stand with books, action figures, board games and clothes. The central element of the exhibition is the unique "Rocket" watch, created specifically for the release of the film.

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A similar model was produced in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, it was the only wristwatch made of natural wood. Now it has been reinterpreted: the craftsmen have kept the barrel-shaped shape, reduced the case, made a beige dial with overlaid markings and added a gold key.

— The golden key is a clockwork key in the truest sense of the word. But the watch can also be wound up in the usual way, and the key can be used simply as an accessory by hanging it around your neck," watchmaker German Dolganov told Izvestia.

According to him, the main difficulty was working with wood: due to humidity, the material can deform, and knots often interfere with the craftsman. It is noteworthy that the mechanism used in the Soviet model was retained in the new version.

It's hard to say who turned out to be more at the premiere — star guests or children. But one thing is for sure: everyone sang along. Alexey Rybnikov's favorite songs were played in new arrangements, and from time to time there was a feeling in the hall and the lobby that the holiday had already begun, despite the fact that the New Year was still a week away.