Fate and Craft

Aleksei Batalov (1928–2017) was born into a family of theater performers and began his film career from an early age. He became well known after his roles in the films "A Big Family," "The Rumyantsev Case," and especially "The Cranes Are Flying." His name became a guarantee of success for any film in which he appeared, and his role in "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" became legendary.

In his book, Batalov talks about cinema, about working in radio, and the secrets of his craft. He also shared memories about directors and actors, and described the legendary house on Ordynka, where well-known artists and writers often visited. The book also includes a preface and stories by his daughter, Gitana-Maria Batalova.