"The director should not be indifferent — and he gave us such an example"

A decent, kind and reliable man who knew how to be friends. This is how colleagues at the film workshop remembered director Yuri Kara, who was parted from on July 22 in the capital. The master's students noted his passion, energy and desire to live. Well, the audience will certainly remember Kara's iconic films, including the legendary films "Tomorrow was War", "The Master and Margarita", "Thieves in Law". Few people came to see the director off on his last journey. Among them are actors Viktor Rakov and Andrey Ankudinov, actress Irina Cherichenko, as well as final—year students of Yuri Viktorovich, his colleagues, his widow and daughter. How Moscow said goodbye to the legend of Soviet and Russian cinema is in the Izvestia report.

"A director should not be indifferent"

The farewell ceremony with the director began at 11 o'clock at the doors of the large funeral hall of the Central Design Bureau No. 1. Until the last minute, Yuri Kara's relatives insisted on a closed memorial service format. But at the last moment, the fans were allowed to accompany the master on his last earthly journey.

Half an hour before the start of the procession, fans of the director and his students began to approach Marshal Timoshenko Street with bouquets of red roses.

— He brought up inner criticism in us. The director should not be indifferent. He set such an example for us. His opinion was different from those around him. Yuri Viktorovich was a complete man. What struck me most was his desire to live. He spent half his life studying physics, and we could feel his energy. There was a boy with burning eyes in the body of an elderly 70-year—old man," Anastasia, a student of Yuri Kara's last directing course, told Izvestia.

The girl added that their teacher considered them his children and always worried about every exam. According to her, Yuri Viktorovich often stayed with students until two o'clock in the morning and sorted out his own scripts.

One of the first to arrive was the granddaughter of aircraft designer Sergei Korolev Maria, about whom Kara made a film in 2007, it was one of his last directorial works. Maria admitted that it is thanks to the director that the memory of her famous grandfather is alive.

Kara's widow Irina Yakovlevna and their only daughter Yulia arrived next. Both remained silent and refused to talk to reporters.

Ekaterina Golovnya, director of the Central House of Cinematographers, came to say goodbye to the cinematographer. On November 13, 2024, Yuri Viktorovich's anniversary evening was held in the walls of the Cinema House.

— He was a man who did not know how not to be friends. We've been working together for a long time. And on his anniversary, everyone laughed a lot, had fun, and danced. And Yuri Viktorovich is the most important," Ekaterina shared with Izvestia.

"I am very grateful to Yura that he believed in me"

At exactly 11 a.m., the doors of the funeral hall opened, and a few people were invited into the hall. At the entrance, the guests of the ceremony were greeted by a portrait of Yuri Kara, from which he gave everyone his signature smile for the last time.

The director's open coffin rested in the center of the room. At her feet, on velvet cushions, are the Order of Merit for Culture and Art, the Medal of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree. People laid flowers at the pedestal, and funeral wreaths from the Union of Cinematographers, VGIK students, and the Mosfilm film concern were placed against the wall.

Kara's widow and daughter were the first to say goodbye to Yuri Viktorovich, separately from everyone, after which they received condolences at the coffin. Viktor Rakov, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, came to say goodbye to the director.

— I remember his human qualities. He was a decent, kind and reliable man," Rakov said.

The actor played the Master in the film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" by Yuri Kara.

— It so happened that the film had been lying around for a long time and was not released in the form it was in. Yuri Viktorovich shot almost five hours, and in 2011 we were shown only a two-hour version. Kara called it a "big commercial." At first, I was approved for the role of a Homeless Man, but after a while Kara called me back and offered me a Master. I agreed, although the role is not at all simple. I am very grateful to Yura that he believed in me," the artist recalled.

After Rakov, he starred in Kara's TV series "The Star of the Epoch" (2005). The last time he saw the director was on his 70th birthday at the Cinema House. According to the actor, he was in a good mood, nothing foreshadowed the imminent finale.

Actor Andrei Ankudinov and actress Irina Cherichenko, who played Iskra in Kara's debut film "Tomorrow was the War," came to see the director off on his last journey. She couldn't hold back her tears.

"I'm sorry, but it really hurts me to speak. I would like to talk about Yura, knowing that he is alive and well. But now I have an emptiness in my soul," the actress said.

During an unplanned civil memorial service, Akim Salbiev, director and classmate of Yuri Viktorovich at VGIK, came to the microphone. He admitted that he got into the profession only thanks to Kara.

— Sergey Gerasimov's course was attended mainly by Muscovites. There were children of writers, actors, and Yura and me. He's from Stalino, I'm from the village of Elkhotovo. We had to fight our way to the capital. And, to be honest, I was thinking of quitting the entrance exams then. But Yura told me, "Gerasimov will decide." I stayed. It's all thanks to Yura. He was very good," Salbiev said.

After the farewell ceremony, he added that it was Kara who became the founder of popular films about bandits in the 1990s.

— Even before Bandit Petersburg and The Brigade, Kara shot Thieves in Law with Valentin Gaft. But first of all, the incredibly poignant picture "Tomorrow was the war" will remain in the memory of the audience," Salbiev added.

Director and film critic David Schneiderov noted that Kara gave the Russian cinema the best cast version of "The Master and Margarita" and put light into each of his students.

— Apparently, they decided up there that it was time to make a good movie, and they sent three outstanding directors Mitta, Moroz and Kara in a week. It's impossible to say, "Yura, you were there." Yura — you are! – Schneiderov finished.

"Yura, thank you for everything. I can't take it anymore..."

The director's widow was the last to be invited to the microphone. The woman said she would try to make a speech, but tears interrupted her at the very beginning.

— We have lived a wonderful life. Yura, thank you for everything. I can't take it anymore..." said Irina.

At the end of the civil memorial service, a priest appeared and conducted a funeral service. To do this, the press was asked to leave the hall so that only relatives, friends and fans would stand next to Yuri Kara.

The farewell ceremony ended in complete silence. By the time the coffin was loaded into the hearse, the square in front of the Central Park was already empty. The relatives went to the Troekurovskoye cemetery, where Yuri Kara will be buried. The director was not applauded or shouted "bravo." He was carried out in silence. And the only sound was the clatter of heels. Bulgakov would have described it on one of his cuffs.