About

Known credits:
33
Birthday:
1941-04-15
Place of birth:
N/A
Website:
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Roman Balayan

Overview

Roman Gurgenovich Balayan (Armenian: Ռոման Գուրգենի Բալայան, Russian: Рома́н Гурге́нович Балая́н; born 15 April 1941, Nerkin Horatagh, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Soviet Union) is a Ukrainian-Armenian film director. In 1997 Balayan was awarded the title People’s Artist of Ukraine.

Balayan worked as an actor in the theater of Stepanakert (located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region) in 1959–1961. He studied directing at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography and film directing at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University, graduating in 1969. Since 1970, he has worked at the Dovzhenko Film Studios in Kiev.

Balayan calls himself a student of Sergei Parajanov. He was nominated and won several international prizes.

He is well-known for his literary adaptations; authors whom Balayan has adapted for the screen are Anton Chekhov (Kashtanka, 1975; The Kiss, 1983, TV), Ivan Turgenev (The Lone Wolf, 1977; First Love, 1995), and Nikolai Leskov (Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, 1989).

His film Flights in Dreams and Reality (1982), a drama about depression and a midlife crisis, is one of his most well-known works. Oleg Yankovsky portrays a creative man in his 40s who feels alienated in society. At the time of its release, politically minded viewers perceived it as a critique of Brezhnevian “stagnation”.

His 1986 film Guard Me, My Talisman was entered into the main competition at the 43rd edition of the Venice Film Festival and won the Golden Tulip at the 1987 International Istanbul Film Festival. His 1977 film Lone Wolf was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival and his 2008 film Birds of Paradise was shown at the 30th Moscow International Film Festival. In 2018 he announced, that he may be shooting his next film in Ukrainian language.

Known for

Acting
2023 Ivan and Marta Actor self 59
Average
2015 Yankovsky Actor 59
Average
1998 Ivan Mykolaichuk. Dedication Actor self 59
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Directing
2021 We Are Here. We Are Close Directing Director 59
Average
2008 Birds of Paradise Directing Director 58
Average
2004 The Night Is Bright Directing Director 58
Average
1998 Two Moons, Three Suns Directing Director 58
Average
1998 A Night at Paradjanov's Museum Directing Director N/A
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1998 A night in the Parajanov Museum Directing Director N/A
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1995 The First Love Directing Director N/A
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1989 Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District Directing Director 58
Average
1987 The Spy Directing Director 58
Average
1986 Guard Me, My Talisman Directing Director 59
Average
1983 The Kiss Directing Director 58
Average
1982 Flights in Dreams and in Reality Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Lone Wolf Directing Director 59
Average
1975 Kashtanka Directing Director 58
Average
1973 Romashkin Effect Directing Director 58
Average
1969 Thief Directing Director N/A
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1969 Palm Sunday Directing Director N/A
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Writing
2023 The Song of Flying Leaves Writing Writer N/A
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2021 We Are Here. We Are Close Writing Writer 59
Average
2004 The Night Is Bright Writing Writer 58
Average
1998 Two Moons, Three Suns Writing Writer 58
Average
1995 The First Love Writing Writer N/A
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1992 The Lady in the Car Writing Screenplay N/A
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1987 The Spy Writing Writer 58
Average
1983 The Kiss Writing Writer 58
Average
1977 Lone Wolf Writing Writer 59
Average
1975 Kashtanka Writing Writer 58
Average

Production
2003 Summer Rain Production Producer N/A
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2001 Shoes from America Production Line Producer N/A
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Crew
1998 A Night at Paradjanov's Museum Crew Script N/A
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