Table of contents:
Video: Interrupted happiness: How the family of Alexei Batalov lives 3 years after his departure
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
He played many bright, memorable roles in the cinema, he was rightfully called the legend of Russian cinema. Alexey Batalov lived a long and happy life in all respects. Three years ago, in June 2017, his heart stopped beating. The departure of the talented artist was a huge loss for the cinema, and the relatives of Alexei Vladimirovich still cannot get used to the fact that he is no longer there.
Half a century of love
For the first time, Alexei Batalov got married in his youth, but the marriage somehow did not work out. Even the birth of Nadezhda's daughter could not unite Alexei Batalov and his wife Irina Rotova. When Gitana Leontenko, a charming circus artist, appeared in the life of a young actor, he immediately understood: this is his true and only love.
Alexey Batalov and Gitana Leontenko met in 1953, when the actor was filming in Leningrad, and Gitana was in the same city on tour with a circus troupe. At that time she was already a successful and famous circus artist, the performances of the grotesque rider were incredibly popular with the viewer, and no one could repeat many of the tricks she performed on a horse.
Naturally, Gitana had many fans, but she did not pay too much attention to them. She just had no time, all the time was occupied by endless rehearsals. When Alexei Batalov saw Gitana Leontenko on horseback, he literally fell ill. He liked the fragile rider so much that he now ran to the circus as soon as he had a free minute.
And Gitana herself clearly sympathized with the shy young man. He was not yet known at that time, but conquered the girl with his intelligence, poetry that he could read for hours, education … He was completely unlike the men from the rider's environment.
True, young people met in fits and starts, the artist often went on tour with the circus, Alexei Batalov acted more and more in films. Gitana did not even have a thought about marriage. She could not imagine herself in the role of a housewife, and in general she was afraid of the world that began outside the circus arena. After all, from the age of four she performed in the arena, lived among people who were keen on the circus, studied at school, as necessary, spent all the time in the circus.
She was independent and freedom-loving, like the true daughter of the Gypsy people. Perhaps that is why the actor was drawn to her. Ten years after they met, Alexey Batalov and Gitana Leontenko nevertheless became husband and wife. And five years after the wedding, in 1968, their daughter Masha was born.
Unfortunately, when the daughter was born, Alexey Batalov was on the set. The birth was difficult, the doctors refused to give Gitana a cesarean section, and she herself could not insist. At the age of six months it already became clear: the daughter was seriously ill, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Alexei Batalov considered himself guilty of what had happened and all his life tried to atone for this guilt with immense concern for his wife and daughter.
The life of the spouses after the birth of Masha changed dramatically. Gitana Leontenko left her job in the circus and devoted herself entirely to her family. Alexei Batalov admitted: he lives for his daughter, and everything that he has belongs only to her.
Parents did everything to ensure that their daughter led a full life and never felt special, not like everyone else. And they themselves did not show their grief to anyone, did not flaunt it. When new people came to the house, they were not warned that Masha was a special child.
Alexei Batalov tried to take Masha with him on business trips abroad, together with her father she visited many countries, visited museums and exhibitions. From childhood, the girl learned to use a computer, went to the theater with her parents, teachers came to her home. After leaving school, Maria entered the screenwriting department of VGIK, began to engage in literary creativity.
Alexey Batalov often admitted that his daughter is much more educated and smarter than himself.
Life after love
Gitana Arkadyevna and Maria Batalova, even today, three years later, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that Alexei Batalov is no longer there. But they try to do everything so that the memory of him lives not only in their hearts, but also in the hearts of those people who loved him and his work.
In the summer of 2019, a reprint of Alexei Batalov's book "Fate and Craft" was published, the foreword to which was written by his daughter, Maria Batalova. This edition also includes several stories by the actor's daughter. Even earlier, the Alexei Batalov Foundation was created, which is primarily concerned with preserving the memory of the actor.
For the 90th anniversary of the actor at the University of Culture at the Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where Alexei Batalov was rector for 15 years, an exhibition of his paintings was held. The wife and daughter selected the best pictures written by the actor for her. And the foundation fulfilled the last request of the actor. He gave his daughter his word to take her to Venice, but did not have time. Thanks to the support of the foundation, Gitana Arkadyevna and her daughter visited Venice.
Maria Alekseevna writes scripts and short stories, publishes reviews of performances, is published in several editions. Alexey Batalov and his wife were able to ensure that their daughter did not feel unnecessary, was engaged in creativity and lead a full life, despite her illness. And they did it. At the same time, the youngest daughter of Alexei Batalov considers it her duty to transfer part of her royalties to charity, to help those in need.
The wife and youngest daughter of Alexei Batalov communicate with the eldest daughter of the actor, Nadezhda. She visits them in a house on Kotelnicheskaya embankment, and Gitana Leontenko is sure that if something happens to her, Nadia will never leave Maria without help. They all live in the memory of the person they loved and want their life to be worthy.
The name of Alexei Batalov has long become a legend in Russian cinema. Possessing great talent and hard work, he not only starred in feature films, but also voiced cartoons, recorded radio plays, tried himself in directing … The star of Alexei Batalov lit up in the late 1950s with the release of the military saga "The Cranes Are Flying", and after that in his life there were many of the most diverse works in cinema.
Recommended:
3 marriages and later happiness of Yuri Bogatikov: Why did the famous performer confess his feelings to his wife only shortly before his departure
He was called "the marshal of the Soviet song", he was a star of the same magnitude as Joseph Kobzon and Muslim Magomayev. “Dark mounds are sleeping” and “Listen, mother-in-law” were sung with him by millions of listeners. Yuri Bogatikov had many admirers and admirers, but he did not immediately find his happiness, and he did not recognize it on the first try. The singer was very fond of the woman who was next to him in the last years of his life, but he could tell her about his feelings only shortly before his departure
How the 90-year-old widow of Leonid Gaidai lives after his departure: Nina Grebeshkova's only vocation
Nina Grebeshkova, who celebrated her 90th birthday 3 months ago, has long been accustomed to being presented primarily not as an actress, but as the wife of director Leonid Gaidai. She herself always considered this role the most important and still calls herself his wife, not a widow. Together they spent more than 40 years, and for 27 years now she has been living without him. What helps the actress not to feel lonely, how does she react to rumors about her husband's infidelity and why she was outraged by the memoirs of Natalia Varley - more on
How the widow of Vladimir Etush lives 2 years after his departure
Vladimir Etush and his last wife, Elena Gorbunova, lived together for 18 years. They were not embarrassed by 43 years of age difference and did not prevent them from being happy at all. Elena Evgenievna throughout her life with Vladimir Abramovich devoted herself entirely to her husband. She lived by his interests, his desires and needs. And she did not at all consider that she was sacrificing her life. When Vladimir Etush died, for a long time she did not even know how to live without him
How the family of Dmitry Hvorostovsky lives 2 years after his departure
More than two years have passed since the day when Dmitry Hvorostovsky, a talented singer, owner of a deep baritone, passed away. It is difficult to convey how the performer's relatives experienced this loss. Parents will never be able to come to terms with this loss, as his beloved Florence will never forget her husband, and children will always lack the wisdom and support of the dad. But their life goes on, even though there is no longer the dearest person in it
How Vladislav Galkin's widow lives 10 years after his departure: Daria Mikhailova
Daria Mikhailova and Vladislav Galkin were one of the most beautiful couples in Russian cinema. Appearing together at social events and premieres, they invariably caught the eye. For ten years they were almost inseparable, and after that there were reports of the separation of the spouses. The divorce was scheduled for March 10, 2010, but Vladislav Galkin passed away on February 25. And Daria Mikhailova preferred to close herself off from everyone and everything, disappearing for several years