Mr. Kusturica is passionate about the Russian classics: Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Bulgakov. “This literature helps me understand and learn about the world,” he notes. The film director reads Russian classics translated into Serbian and believes that these translated works are almost identical to the originals, due to our similar mentality. On being asked whether he plans to film Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita, he explains that two film directors have tried before with little success. “I think it’s an opportunity I should allow to pass. Can genius literature inspire a genius film, and will audiences perceive it as a genius film?” he wonders.
Admiration of classics inspires cinema
Famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica has told journalists that he is ready to co-operate with Belarusian and Russian cinematographers in creating his new film, dedicated to Fyodor Dostoevsky, from whose work he draws inspiration.
