How did Galina Volchek's relationship with her only son develop?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On December 26, 2019, Galina Volchek passed away. She had many merits to art, she acted in films, played in the theater, directed, released new productions and just lived "Contemporary", to which she undividedly belonged for more than half a century. Galina Borisovna always, laughing, said that she was married to the theater. But there was one more enduring love in her life … Many good and correct words will be said at parting with the director, but no one can save Denis Evstigneev, the son of the great Galina Volchek, from the pain of loss.

A son

Galina Volchek never paid attention to extraordinary people, and therefore it was natural for her to love a slightly awkward and incredibly talented former worker from Nizhny Novgorod, Evgeny Evstigneev. At the same time, least of all, the young heiress of director Ber Volchek and screenwriter Vera Maimina was interested in the attitude of her parents to her beloved person.

When it became clear that the family was slightly biased towards her husband, she and her husband left for an apartment, and six years after the wedding in 1961, Denis was born, the only son of Galina Volchek and Evgeny Evstigneev. And a year after the birth of her son, Galina Volchek made a successful directorial debut: her play "Two on a Swing" was released.

Mom and Dad were at that time fascinated by Sovremennik, and Denis grew up as a completely theatrical child. Together with other children of actors and directors, he enjoyed spending time behind the scenes, went on tour and shooting with his mother. He was only five when his parents divorced, and his mother and her father, Boris Izrailevich, had a greater influence on his character and choice of life path.

Mom, who was constantly in search of new talents, new directorial decisions, new role drawings, did not seem to bring up her son especially. He just grew up in the atmosphere that she created. Large companies gathered in their house, Yevgeny Yevtushenko read his poems, Vladimir Vysotsky sang, Georgy Tovstonogov said something.

For Galina Volchek, this community was always important, when everything was done together. They worked together and rested together, could quarrel until they were hoarse, and then sit together until midnight, talking about life. Children grew up right there, in the kitchens and behind the scenes, easily communicated with outstanding people. It is unlikely that at that time Denis perceived his mother as a monumental person, but he learned from her the main thing: to love. Although, as Galina Volchek loved people, hardly anyone else can. However, he also inherited a profession from his mother. Like Galina Volchek, Denis Evstigneev became a director, only realized in the cinema.

Mama

She was always a very sociable and open person, she did not know how to wear a stone in her bosom, she immediately spilled out her displeasure or resentment. She instantly tensed if Denis, due to his own busyness or forgetfulness, did not call her for at least one day. At the same time, it was not the fact that the phone call didn’t ring out that bothered her, but rather, like any mother, she was upset by her son’s lack of need to communicate with her. Although she could never reproach him for carelessness.

The son was always there if she felt bad: he flew in from another city, put off all his affairs and rushed to help. He just knew that he always had a mom with whom he could talk heart to heart, discuss some new project, ask for advice. And I was sure: mom will always be …

They were very different, Galina Volchek and her only son. He is closed, he prefers to experience everything in himself. She is open and surprisingly kind, infinitely loving and charming. Love in general was a state of mind for Galina Volchek, who loved everyone: the janitor and the president, the theater controller and a simple grandmother who happened to be met on the street. People were drawn to her, and she was in a hurry to do good, helped everyone and everyone, although she never asked for anything for herself and her loved ones.

True, there were things that seemed completely unacceptable to her, she could not stand arrogance and rudeness, insincerity and unnaturalness. And in this Galina Volchek could not help herself: her face instantly reflected rejection of these qualities. Perhaps that is why, more than anyone else in the world, she loved children who still do not know how to hide their emotions and feelings, they are always sincere and spontaneous.

Many actors brought their heirs to Sovremennik, and Galina Volchek liked it when they ran around the theater, made noise and generally felt at home. The director admitted that any small child was able to bring her out of the most severe and prolonged depression. She could cry from the manifestation of her acting talent or from something beautiful, she was touched by real feelings, and from a good joke she laughed to tears. In general, she did everything in full force: she cried and laughed, loved and worked. She lived to the fullest until the last day …

On December 26, 2019, Galina Volchek passed away. She will no longer enter the theater, will not make another scene, will not release her new performance. And yet she will be invisibly present in the life of everyone who had the good fortune to be loved by a great director.

Galina Volchek's life has been inextricably linked with the Sovremennik Theater for over 60 years. People who did not know Galina Borisovna personally sometimes called her the Iron Lady. Colleagues, friends and relatives were sure: she is a very vulnerable, sensitive person, and she herself ironically admitted that in her life there were two marriages, several novels and one delusion.