Zarina Kairova: “Drama school is my life milestone”

Interview by Oleg Kusov, Moscow. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Interesting people are always welcome in the studio of Vestnik Kavkaza. Oleg Kusov gives every guest in the studio an opportunity to speak their minds. Conversations are not centered only on the Caucasus. A half-hour conversation over tea flies quickly. The show "Take My Word" films and records its conversations as well as offering them in the form of a text.

- Zarina, introducing you, I should say that you are not only a theater and cinema actress, a tutor, but also a resident of Beslan. Beslan is a unique town of North Ossetia, the republic’s gate. Airplanes fly there, trains run, roads to the South Caucasus pass through Beslan. It is a town of talented people. Unfortunately, in modern history it is also a place of a huge tragedy, but the Ossetian people have a strong spirit to overcome difficulties and defeat evil. And this is confirmed by the fact that many wonderful talented people live there. It is compensation from heaven. And Zarina Kairova is one of them.

- Thank you!

- Zarina, how do you feel – are you a resident of Beslan or a resident of Moscow? You live in Moscow as well.

- It is a nice question, as I always think about it, when I arrive in Moscow or fly from Moscow to Ossetia, Beslan. I think the distinction is eliminated. I visit home very often, as I miss my parents so much. I came to Moscow after my school graduation in 2000. I entered the M.S. Schepkin Higher Theatre School. And there were periods when I hadn’t seen my parents for two years. The biggest pause lasted for three years. And I had a feeling, when you come and see that your father is old. I remember him as a sound, strong man. Once I bought him a suit, and I couldn’t remember his size: 52 or 54? I thought it was 54, as he was so big. I came home and saw that he had lost weight. He is 66 now. Age is beginning to tell

- We simply become older together with our parents.

- No doubt. And I would like to say: dear guys, those who are studying in Moscow, those who left parents in the Caucasus and other places, please visit home as often as possible. For our children our smiles, our warmth which we bring with us are the most important thing. During my 4-day visit I try to please my father, cook something tasty, make surprises for my mother. I think such separations are also beneficial, as you begin to appreciate your beloved relatives. There is responsibility, when you live in a city. When you come home, you should share your achievements, successes, plans in your study and or career. The main thing is to remain a human being.

- Zarina, there is another option to define your belonging to the motherland. I found it out, when I didn’t live home. I was born in Beslan, was raised in Vladikavkaz, later I studied in Lvov and lived in Siberia. Once I came home from Lvov and tasted Beslan water. And I realized that it was the most tasty water in the world, because I was born there. In Vladikavkaz water is tasty too, but for those who were born there.

- Yes. The first thing which I do when I come home is running to a sink and drinking cold water. Our water is very tasty. We don’t need to buy it, it is running from springs, waterfalls, a sink. We are happy people.

- You are speaking about your motherland with enthusiasm. I think it will be difficult to turn to Moscow life. But still, does anything provoke your admiration here?

- Yes, something provokes my admiration. I have got used to Moscow. I have many friends here, I am working here, shooting in movies. However, I can’t say that I have many roles.

I love Moscow so much. I think it loves me as well. There is such a notion – whether Moscow welcomes you or not. Whether you feel comfortable in the city or something annoys you. In Ossetia we live a calm life, everything is perfect, people dream, and there is no hurry. The same thing goes for working: at first people come to the office, drink tea, rest, talk, then they work, and then they drink tea again.

-          If a meeting is scheduled for 12:00, they will come at 14:00.

-          Yes, we need to learn punctuality. That’s why I love Moscow. I told you that my father formed us by severity. I have a twin sister. In school we shared the same desk. And when I arrived in Moscow, I felt fear. We were recorded by a camera, and I only had big frightened eyes. My bus left and I was like: “Oh God! Where am I?!” Everything seemed huge in comparison with my village.

-          This is how Moscow works. It is an imperial city. A person who gets here from a province wants to kneel down. I am sure you didn’t; you conquered Moscow quickly. At least it welcomed you. This is a many-faceted notion – whether a city welcomes you or not. There are many signs which are made daily, aren’t there?

-          For sure. When I arrived in Moscow I was a child, and I had a difficult moment. Ahead of entering the M.S. Schepkin Higher Theatre School, I studied in Ossetia, at the North Ossetia State University in the Art Department. Soon I found out that a Moscow commission from the wonderful university came to us, and I passed the exams and entered the Schepkin School.

It was difficult for me to adapt in Moscow. I was frightened, but soon I got used to it. There were funny moments. I couldn’t use the metro, as I was afraid of it. I got headaches there. I didn’t understand how one could get used to the crazy city. But day by day I did it myself…

-          So Moscow challenged you.

-          Of course. It was difficult to study. We were studying all day long; at night we visited theaters and museums. Every day was busy. We fell in love with Moscow.

-          Moscow is a vast space for working. You are a tutor.

-          Yes, I am a tutor. I have changes in my life again. I moved to Moscow again. I have been teaching stage movement at the drama school of MEL for three years. My students were 6 to 17 years old. Stage movement is connected with body mobility, falling, a stage fight, fencing, acrobatics, working with accessories. It is an interesting subject which I like and want to develop in this sphere. And then I moved to Ossetia due to family affairs. I spent some time on dealing with my problems. But then people in Ossetia found out that I lived in Ossetia and invited me to work. I had many students there. A movie headlined “The Tunnel” was shot there, I played a small role in the Ossetian language. It was a pleasure for me. At the same time, I began shooting in “The Voronins” TV-show. My casting director managed to find me anywhere. She said: “Even if you are in Antarctica, I will find you and you will come to the film set right on time.” I knew that Lena would find me anywhere.

-          As a fan of “The Voronins”, I would like to thank your casting director. We will turn to the TV-show later. You say that an actor has to know how to do everything like an officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate. He should know how to dance, shoot, swim, jump.

-          Our profession is great. You are right. When a student of a theater university graduates, he faces many difficulties and problems. Of course each person thinks that he is a genius actor, handsome and talented and all theaters are happy to welcome him and all directors should shoot him in their films. And the euphoria lasts for sometime…

-          Journalists think about the same things when they graduate.

-          … And then life starts. You realize that the salary is small; begin working in a theater, something bothers you. Every theatre has its own rules. In the university everybody loves you and takes care of you, helps you, and tells you that you are great. The drama school is my life milestone. The school gave me a lot of benefits. It not only taught me, but also raised me. Our art director Dmitry Koznov turned into our father. He is a wonderful man, a professor, actor, director. He told us: “Guys, forget how you slept, ate, sat, walked at home. You will learn it again.” We spent 4 hours on the edge of a chair and you must not stoop. Ballet. We were transformed. Girls lost weight, eating vegetables and fruits. We were taught how to speak, how to sit, how to behave. And we were told that there were no stars or unknown persons, important or unimportant ones. Even a cleaning woman was important. We always said “Good day!” to them. It would be better to say “Hello!” twice than not at all. In the school the atmosphere was wonderful, everybody smiled and you felt creativity and happiness in the air.

-          It is important to find such a tutor at the beginning of your career.

-          Yes, this is true. And he knew who was ill, who had what problems. He called us, supervised us, secured us and took care of us. We are grateful to him!

To be continued