“In the protest movement, I am a sluggish person. Alexey Kortnev: “We compromised and got hit in the nose for it

Our conversation with Alexei Kortnev took place in the press hall of the Tula Regional Philharmonic. The musician came out for an interview in good mood, with a smile on his face.

— Alexey “careless concert” is an absolute interactive activity, who came up with this idea?

As a rule, ideas are born together. We came up with this thing a long time ago, about 15 years ago, during a brainstorming session. Maybe 10 years ago - I don’t remember the time periods well. We played them, then we got tired of them and abandoned it. And a year and a half ago they revived this genre again, and now it’s going very well. These days, people want to not just listen, but participate, and not have it all loud and homey. It’s clear why: we have practically lost this in everyday life, such gatherings with a guitar. I think that's why this genre is in demand.

- Well, this is always some kind of risk?

At first we had mistakes in the organization, but now we have overcome all this. Previously, we did not limit the number of people who go on stage, now we understand that it is no more than two people and no longer than one song. As for the risk... Among our audience, no one ever went into a scandal and there were no inappropriate spectators on stage at all. However, if something like this happens, it will be even interesting.

— The group is 33 years old, its success has been proven. Who is your audience now, and what might surprise the “Accident” group?

Some external events may surprise you. But what happens at our concerts no longer surprises me. On the other hand, we are waiting, maybe something extraordinary will happen. And our audience is still the same educated, intelligent people from 25 to 55 years old. But we also see very young people at concerts, which is very nice. Of course, there are more 15-year-old girls at boy band performances, but we also have such girls.

I don’t know yet - they hide everything from me, as if from a seriously ill person. I know that we will go somewhere with my wife and mother. I suspect that a whole crowd of people will go with us, but they don’t tell me anything. And on the 10th, for some reason, we are going to Sheremetyevo, maybe we’ll just have lunch there. I'm not expecting any gifts. I was lucky and always had what I wanted. ABOUT material benefits I don't dream at all. I dream of world peace, so that all this bullshit that is happening around Russia and other countries will stop.

Alexey Kortnev and Kamil Larin.

We will have a play-show “Two for 50”. The script has already been written. We invited a bunch of friends with whom we've spent half our lives together. These are “Quartet I”, Valdis Pelsh, Andryusha Makarevich, Zhenya Margulis, “Bi 2”, Max Leonidov, Ira Bogushevskaya, Tanya Lazareva, Diana Arbenina... These are people with whom we interacted in the cinema, in the theater, on the stage.

— What does the number 50 mean to you? Is it time to take stock or is this just the beginning?

This number means absolutely nothing to me. This is half of a hundred, but it is clear that most of the world's population does not live a hundred years. Therefore, this is by no means half of life, but significantly more. 35 or 40 years mean much more to a person.

Valdis Pelsh and Alexey Kortnev, mid-1980s.

— You organized the “Accident” group together with Valdis Pelsh. How often do you manage to see each other now?

We are guaranteed to see each other once a month - we play a play together. Plus we do some projects together. Seryozhka Chekryzhov, our main composer, and I write music and lyrics for it. We involve Valdis in all our significant events, for example, to concerts for our 30th anniversary. Now, at my 50th birthday celebration, he will shine on stage. So mostly we communicate on business, but we come up with these things for ourselves with great pleasure.

— From the times of the USSR, what are you most nostalgic for?

From my own youth. There were also very few cars on the roads - which was nice. Everything else was worse.

— You have more than 40 film roles under your belt. How do you manage to combine everything?

I have no filming at all right now. I refuse a lot, I cannot and do not want to change stage activities for filming. If I had been offered the opportunity to star with Andron Konchalovsky, then I would have approached this more carefully and would probably have freed up time for filming. Offers to work in various TV series or uninteresting films are not worth turning down concerts and performances.

Alexey Kortnev and the Saltykov-Shchedrin Show team.

— You are now hosting the “Saltykov-Shchedrin Show” on NTV. What can we expect from new releases?

There will be very interesting stories. We have already filmed quite a few forward programs. Some things will be very poignant, the songs will be funny and again poignant, which is nice. I think the show is unlikely to last very long because its range of topics is very limited. After a season, people will get tired of looking at housing and communal services problems, although these problems will not go away. But it’s impossible to tell the same joke every evening. So I understand that this is a temporary project, and maybe a launching pad for something innovative.

— What emotions does another NTV show “Through the Mouth of a Baby” bring you?

Exceptional joy! Communicating with these wonderful kids there is pure delight! I think that this program will live forever, although it will not be able to win a wide audience. But parents will always be interested in this program. And it doesn’t matter who will lead it.

— You have five personal consultants for this program. What are your children's hobbies?

My eldest son Tyoma. Having worked in various positions, he came to me to work as a senior administrator at our School of Three Arts (a school led by actress Nonna Grishaeva, choreographer Yegor Druzhinin and musician Alexei Kortnev. - Author's note), which we opened in Khimki. Nikita studies at the Institute of Radio Electronics and Automation. Senya and Afonya go to school, Asya goes to kindergarten. Let it be for now.

— Your wishes to our readers.

Health, more money, economic miracle and peace!

Alexey Kortnev with his wife Amina, sons Arseny and Afanasia, daughter Aksinia.

Dossier

He wrote his first songs in the seventh grade of an English special school in Moscow.

He studied at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow State University, but did not graduate from the university.

In 1983, together with Valdis Pelsh, he created the group “Accident”.

Translator of the texts of popular foreign musicals staged in Russia (“Cats”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Beauty and the Beast”).

Presenter on NTV of the show “Through the Mouth of a Baby” and “Saltykov-Shchedrin Show”.

Family: third wife Amina Zaripova, son Artemy (from his first wife Irina Bogushevskaya), son Nikita (from Elena Lanskaya), from Amina - sons Arseny and Afanasy, daughter Aksiniya.

Selected filmography: “Moscow Saga”, “Night Sisters”, “Election Day”, “Lilac Branch”, “Radio Day”, “What Men Talk About”, “Boiling Point”, “There Was Love”, “Angel on Duty”, "Rzhevsky against Napoleon", "Cuckoo".

Alexey Kortnev - about his civic position, the upcoming anniversary of “Accident” and the refusal to Channel One.

On February 2, at the Moscow Arena, the popular Moscow band “Accident” will play a big solo session, which was supposed to take place last year, but fell through for good reason. Before the concert, Izvestia columnist Mikhail Margolis had a heartfelt conversation with NA leader Alexei Kortnev.

- Last fall, you fell so ill that “Accident” had to cancel a dozen planned performances, including a big Moscow solo album.

- Is this the same specialist who treats Valery Kipelov and Pelageya?

You are apparently talking about Lev Borisovich Rudin. He is a first-class therapist, and in his office we actually often meet with the same Pelageya. He referred me to Ivanchenko, since my problem could not be solved with therapeutic methods. I apparently quailed in the summer, and also caught a serious cold under the air conditioning and finished off my voice at the London Olympics, where I screamed in the stands like a real fan.

- Is the concert at the Arena essentially your “repayment of debts”?

Yes, and for those who were going to see it in November, the tickets purchased then are valid. We want to show a few new songs, but not much. In my opinion, arrange premieres in big hall not quite right. Here you need to play what people already know.

- While you were being treated, a series of events took place in our country, the “Dima Yakovlev Law” was adopted, for example. Could the moods and customs of this winter be reflected in your upcoming works?

You know, I realized that I cannot react so quickly to current circumstances. For the performance, to make some tough couplets and insert them, say, into the song “Snowflake” - that’s welcome. Soon we will have regular shows of Radio Day, and there I will definitely write something about the State Duma, its activities and laws. This is a feuilleton genre. But I can’t quickly compose serious songs. I really envy the ability of Vasya Oblomov or Dima Bykov to instantly and efficiently respond to events.

- But I’m talking not so much about feuilleton essays, but about your recognizable sad philosophicalness. The one that, for example, again manifested itself volumetrically in last album NS "Tunnel at the end of the world." Relatively speaking, are you ready for the songs “Sasha Walked Along Highway 2” or “Tears of Men 2”?

Yes, I'm working on such a thing. Let's just say it accumulates in me like an avalanche. Because the level of idiocy in the country, unfortunately, is growing every month.

- Does your wife, multiple world champion in rhythmic gymnastics Amina Zaripova, agree with you or does she not care? Let's say she can go to an opposition rally?

She understands everything perfectly. Although initially Musya was quite neutral about my “civic activity.” However, what kind of special activity do I have there... I’m not an organizer of a protest movement, but a sluggish person in it. But Musya already went with me to the recent march on January 13 against the “law of scoundrels.” About 30 people gathered in our company, and in fact half of them came to the rally for the first time, while seven of them were my friends who were specifically involved in the topic of orphanages and charity. They were simply shocked by what the Duma deputies did.

- Sergei Nikitin, as you probably know, refused to participate in the anniversary evening of Yuri Bashmet after certain public statements by the famous violist. Are you ready to react in a similar way in a similar situation?

Yes. For example, just an hour ago I refused an offer to try myself as a host of one of the popular news programs on Channel One. True, they told me that “we have a completely apolitical program.” But I answered: sorry, guys, I can’t. Appearing on “First” as a grimacing artist is welcome. But becoming a relay of the opinion of the channel’s management goes against my principles. That’s what I wrote in a letter to those who invited me, and emphasized that my attitude towards this TV does not apply to them specifically.

- Has anyone already told you: “Well, that’s it, Lesha, after such an answer you burned all your “bridges” to “First”?

But no one knows yet. I'm telling you first. Morally, I am, in principle, ready to part with Channel One if they react jealously to this refusal of mine. I won’t say that I will suffer much, although, of course, I will be a little sorry for some of the big glamor programs in which you can take part there from time to time. But everything, as they say, has a cost. And I’m not ready to pay such a high moral price to remain in the “Channel One” circle.

- But now you are playing in the musical “Embezzlers,” created based on the work of the notorious conformist of his time, Valentin Kataev, in the theater of the now successful cultural official Mikhail Shvydkoy.

I started collaborating with Shvydky a couple of years ago and became quite close with him, but exclusively on theatrical grounds. I really don’t know anything about his life outside the theater and have never been interested in it. Therefore, I have an absolutely positive attitude towards Mikhail Efimovich.

- He wasn’t curious: why did you, Mikhail Efimovich, “eat Gorbushka”?

It was not he who ate it, but the enterprise to which it belongs - the Khrunichev plant. And this happened long before Shvydkoy agreed to set up his own theater there. “Gorbushka” was empty for several years. At some point I was even offered to become the artistic director of this cultural center.

- What mission?

To do whatever I think of there. And the owners of Gorbushka were ready to invest money in new lighting and sound equipment, refurbish the dilapidated hall, etc. But everything remained at the level of talk.

- This year will be for you, to a greater extent, the year of your independent projects: in the theater, cinema, on TV or is it still the year of “Accident”?

Of course, the second one. Because this year the National Assembly celebrates its 30th anniversary, for which we are slowly beginning to prepare now. I’m not sure that I will be able to write some new bright songs just for the anniversary, but maybe they are not required for such a holiday. It’s better to go back to the roots, to bring up something forgotten or unpublished.

- I remember your duet etude with Andrei Makarevich “They beat with crowbars.” A popular feature today for high-profile speeches or videos on the Internet? Don't you want to try again? The same Vasya Oblomov sings with Noise and Shnur, with Ksenia Sobchak and Leonid Parfenov.

For the 30th anniversary of the National Assembly, we planned to make a bunch of funny duets in the spirit of the “They Beat With Crowbars” you mentioned. God willing, this will turn into a skit for about forty minutes at the beginning of our anniversary concert. Max Leonidov, Tanya Lazareva, Nonna Grishaeva, Andryusha Makarevich promise to take part in it. This will be an original story, and not a Kavehan-style reworking of our old songs. Maybe there will be a musical a la the form, reminiscent of our “Last Days in Paradise.” If it turns out talented, perhaps later it will be distributed into independent short numbers.

I would like to believe. Shortly after the release of Tunnel at the End of the World, I would probably proudly agree: “Oh, yes, yes! I feel that way too.” But now I am very worried that two and a half years have passed since the release of this album, and I have not yet composed anything comparable to it. Of course, any scribbler is haunted by the fear of losing the gift of writing. But right now it’s literally choking me. I hope to overcome it.

Dear friend,

From the very beginning of the rise in oil prices, which approximately coincided with the advent of Voldemar to the throne, approximately until the rapidly military-Georgian campaign, the Russian Federation had an amazingly extended chance, almost eight years, to begin and even partially implement structural reforms in all major industries And National economy- and mainly at their own expense, without resorting to significant external borrowings. Not every country in history has had such a long-term “moment of luck,” and it was not just stupid, it was criminal not to take advantage of it.

How just small example- I don’t want to give the whole mournful list. These are your jobs (i.e., pensions too), your education and health care system - it would be very useful to you when you get old, but it will be at approximately today's level (i.e., very deplorable), and most likely it will be even worse, i.e. Unfortunately, you won’t get modern treatment. I mean this without any malice - I have friends in the Russian Federation, and not everyone can afford paid treatment, and even paid treatment lags significantly behind. The government has already taken measures to create a parallel structure of medical services for the privileged sections (i.e. civil servants), i.e. Even such lagging medicine will not be enough for everyone. How will everyone else be served? And as in Chekhov’s “Aesculapius”: “Give him something!”

In practice this means something like this:

You have grown old and are starting to feel achy. Abroad, new medications have long appeared, new procedures that make life much easier - a doctor who has read a lot of foreign magazines tells you about this (let’s assume you are fabulously lucky and you have an advanced doctor who reads medical literature, and not the standard dull aunt who looks at the monthly report, and not at the patient)... They don’t exist in Russia and won’t appear in your lifetime. For example, in 2014-2015. In Canada, they developed a technique for extracting a blood clot using a probe, after which the stroke patient almost immediately gets up and walks on his own feet, rather than lying for weeks in rehabilitation. The year is 2035, but in your local clinic, no one has heard of this technique.

You have completely lost your health, it is difficult for you to leave the apartment (and you need to see a doctor, for example), you need a stroller or a stick. The entrance, naturally, is not equipped for this. And even if you leave the house, you won’t go further than your own yard, because nothing is equipped anywhere. Who is to blame for this? Who's to blame for everything last years nothing was invested in development, in the most essential infrastructure, that investors fled like hell from incense, that housing (even “elite”) was built as if only ever-young ancient Greek gods would live in it?

Of course, if you are an eternally young ancient Greek god, then all this does not apply to you.

You have a new album out now, there will be concerts and interviews. What helps you keep yourself going?

The most important thing is the correct male daily routine. In the morning - exercise, in the evening - alcohol in the right amount. And I am also invigorated by the thought that this will end soon. Now every day is busy, but I know that this is exactly until the 19th. Then rest. Then work again. The thought of future breaks really supports me and makes me push myself.

I would not say that Amina is a physically strong person. She was not involved in the kind of sport that involves building up an insane muscle mass. So we definitely don’t have any problems with this. And the woman remains fragile, as she should be. Although professional sport greatly educates a person and organizes him. It’s in the family that she deals with the organization – building a house, interacting with all sorts of nannies... She does this very well.

Is she also responsible for physical training in the family? As an athlete?

No, she is not interested in this at all now, she is quite satisfied with her students - she is an honored coach Russian Federation. I keep an eye on my form and my sons, I force them to go to different sections. Moreover, I play sports a lot more than she does, simply because she is already tired of it. So from the wife there is absolutely no pressure or advice in this regard. I'm very happy with this.

First of all, she is devoted. And preferably smart. I really don’t like stupid people, although I recognize their right to exist. But I could never connect my life with such a woman. By the way, among my friends and acquaintances, everyone is distinguished by great mental alertness.

How old is your eldest son?

At 23, everyone is primarily a dunce. I was goofing around, writing songs, staging plays... Artem was goofing around, doing photography, writing something. Men's toys change, interests shift, but these are small things... But the way of life, thinking, ideas - everything is almost the same, I don’t see any strong differences.

Well, how to answer... Now I know that one is enough. But before I met Amina, I led a fairly relaxed lifestyle, living with beautiful women and didn’t give a damn. This does not mean that you need a lot of women, it means that while you are looking, you may come across two, or maybe twenty-two. And then you meet yours, having already had enough life experience and then these men’s problems - getting married or being single - disappear! If all these doubts are still swirling in your head, then something is wrong in the relationship.

Certainly! No, if you want to start a family at 20, you can try. But there is a high probability that all this will end as soon as you want new experiences.

— Let’s start, perhaps, not with women. Tell us about your feelings before celebrating your anniversary...

Alexey Kortnev: I feel calmer than ever because I have delegated all the worries about preparing the holiday to others. Although this did not happen immediately. At first I was tense, worried, and came up with the concept of our show “Two for 50.” And in August, when Kamushok and I (that’s what Alexey calls Kamil. - TN note) were vacationing with the children in Bulgaria, I suddenly thought: “Why the hell bother? This is our holiday - let others do it.” And I felt so good!

Kamil Larin: I think we will still have to intervene in the process. In addition to the spectators, Lesha and my friends will come to the concert at the Crocus City Hall. I want everything to go well.

- Do you guarantee fun?

K.L.: Even if we want to make it sad, it will still turn out funny. I remember how, when I was a student, we tried to stage “Hamlet” and at the fifteenth minute we realized that it was a comedy show. We definitely won’t be sad. What's the point in sadness? Everything is fine! But about seven years ago I was in a completely different mood. I even decided to consult Lesha. I called him and said: “What’s happening to me? Why is my soul so heavy? Although there is work, soon New Year and in general everything is not bad.” - “Oh-oh-oh, Kamil, I’ve caught up with you. This is a midlife crisis,” he replies. I ask: “What should I do? Maybe I should drink some vodka?” He says: “Everything is useless: this is a chemical process in the body - you just have to be patient.”

A.K.: It affects everyone differently: some at 40, some at 50. But no one manages to escape the midlife crisis.

I don’t understand why men suffer. The interest of the opposite sex in them does not fade away throughout their lives. It’s much more difficult for us women. Tell me, maybe it’s in vain that ladies are so upset about their age?

A.K.: We have entered into a complex, albeit interesting area. I am sure that there is only one recipe for women’s crises: to be married to a strong adult man ten or fifteen years older. In this case, the woman will be confident in herself. My wife now

40 years. When she turns 50, I will be 60. Why should Musa (as Alexey calls his wife Amina Zaripova - TN note) suddenly worry about age if I am older and give her a complete feeling of security? We love each other, we have a strong family, children, home.

K.L.: In turn, a woman gives a man strength, which he is afraid of losing over the years. This known fact. Why do grown men suddenly go to fitness and start taking care of their health? That is why.

A.K.: Right. And if two poles - yin and yang, plus and minus, black and white, man and woman - are in harmony, a feeling of peace, balance, and comfort arises.

K.L.: And not that kind of peace when it’s good, I lie there and don’t want anything. But on the contrary: “I feel comfortable next to this woman, and I want to do something else for her and both of us.”

Kamil with his wife Ekaterina, Alexey with his wife Amina and daughter Aksinia. Photo: Arsen Memetov

So the most important thing is to choose the right person, and then there’s nothing to worry about?

K.L.: It is desirable, but it is not easy.

A.K.: For example, Kama and I searched and searched... (Alexei has his third marriage, Kamil has his second. - Note "TN".)

- Do your wishes for a woman adjust with age? Or does a man at 20 strive for the same things he did at 50?

A.K.: At the age of 20, young men first of all want sex, and only then a lot of other things.

K.L.: At 30 - varied sex.

A.K.: At 40, it’s completely diverse, because you don’t want it any other way. And now it would be nice, first of all, for her to make borscht... Sex or borscht? Yes, probably borscht, and then... we'll talk.

What do you immediately notice when you meet a woman? What needs to happen for you to want to meet her more than once or twice?

A.K.: For a woman to have prospects, she must be... our wife. Katya - in Kamil's case, and Amina - in mine. Nowadays, outside girls have little chance of becoming close to us. Compared to what it was fifteen to twenty years ago, there are practically none.

K.L.: Looking ahead, anticipating your next questions, I will note that a woman must necessarily give a man freedom,

do not invade his personal space, so that there is no such thing as: “Where are you going? When will you come? You’re not at home again - the children don’t see their father!” As soon as we get freedom, we ourselves want to come home as soon as possible.

A.K.: And be with the children.

K.L.: Because there is no forbidden fruit! When you're not being held, you don't want to run away. That's it, it started. (Laughs.) It is also desirable that the woman be beautiful, attentive, and participate in her man’s life. And she didn’t answer the message that I had a successful performance today: “Did you buy chicken? Or have you forgotten again?!”

A humorous photo from the wedding of Kamil and Katya (2014). Photo: From the personal archive of Kamil Larin

You mentioned beauty. Is it important for you that a girl meets model standards? I would be long-legged, with a thin waist, full breasts...

A.K.: Appearance is definitely important. But breast size, dear women, is not of fundamental importance for us men. Each breast has its own charm. A woman can be beautiful no matter her size, but she must be well-groomed. Because it is a sign of self-respect. A woman who values ​​herself highly is always interesting to men. No matter how generous or stingy her natural gifts may be, a girl can bring herself to a wonderful state. Or terrible.

Second important indicator is a woman's IQ. No matter how wonderful the girl is, the first two or three phrases by and large decide everything.

K.L.: And also a sense of humor! And here it is not so important that she herself can make a successful joke. The main thing is that she responds and reacts correctly to my jokes.

Women often complain about their men being lazy, drinking or earning little. But at the same time they tolerate them and try to re-educate them for years. Do you think this is real?

A.K.: I believe that it is unrealistic to re-educate a man. If there is something fundamentally unsatisfactory about your husband, you need to get a divorce. Or endure and not complain.

I have a feeling that people are born with a certain set of personality traits and behave in accordance with it until the day they die. No matter how much you raise a person, the basics are laid in him from the first minute of life. I judge by my children. Amina and I are amazed to notice that all three turned out to be completely different - with their own needs, characters, and interests. Moreover, they were born in absolutely identical conditions and from common parents who did not become poorer, richer, softer, tougher, smarter, or stupider during this time. I will answer your question this way: a woman can be happy with any man - childish, weak, and a drinker... if she needs one. After all, there are strong, self-sufficient, purposeful aunts who happily work to turn their chosen ones into princes.

K.L.: Right! And no other is needed, even if the lady says otherwise! She simply won’t get the puzzle together with men of a different type. I am amazed by women's complaints. It would seem that if you don’t like your husband’s low earnings or his reluctance to give flowers, find someone else. But no, he nags, reproaches, cites other men as examples, tries to change things... Why?!

A.K.: Because intuitively she understands: it is not a fact that she will feel better in the arms of another. She might even regret it!

K.L.: It seems to me that each of us has next to us the person he deserves.

A.K.: You can raise your husband, but only very slowly, gradually making adjustments. And then only on condition that he himself wants to re-educate. And if not, then nothing can be changed. I'll give you a personal example. Musya gets annoyed when, after I take a bath, there is water left on the floor. I personally don’t care, I don’t even notice. I wipe it lightly, and it starts up: “Ah-ah! The drops remain! She told me once, twice, ten - and she achieved her goal. Now, before I get out of the shower, I carefully look at my feet. And if I see a puddle, I just throw my robe.

K.L.: Hers, of course.

A.K.: Naturally! And I walk on it. But this is the maximum I can do.

Alexey: now strangers have little chance of interest in me or Kama. Not like 15-20 years ago... Photo: Arsen Memetov

Now, Alexey, single women will read your words and say: “Let them flood my entire bathroom, just so as not to be alone!” Why do you think there are so many single women in our country? And often beautiful, smart, wealthy...

A.K.: Did you say wealthy? Well, here is the answer to your question. This means that the aunt works well and hard. How much time and effort does she spend on her career? Modern girls nowadays with young nails concerned about self-realization and success. Emancipation has moved like a tractor through all areas of life - family life in the first place. Ask the girls what they expect from the future. I think only every hundred will say: I want to get married. And 99 means that they dream of being successful. It would be good to combine this desire with the desire to become a happy wife and mother.

Alexey addresses his five-year-old daughter Aksinia:

Asya, do you want to get married?

Asya: Nope.

A.K.: And who do you want to be?

Asya: Hairdresser!

A.K.: Here you are. It seems to me that women are playing with emancipation. God knows whether this is good or bad. Oh, now I'm going to be accused of sexism! But women's success attracts attention in any case. For some men, it is in some sense an aphrodisiac. It scares others away.

- And you personally?

A.K.: I like women who have achieved a lot. Infantilism is not attractive. My wife is busier than me, she has achieved success in her profession, but at the same time she gave birth to three children!

K.L.: A person likes to look at three things: fire, water and how another works. In general, I like people who succeed in everything, who have an answer to any question. It feels so good to be around them, so cozy, great. And when I hear from a woman: “Oh, I don’t know how...” I think: “Damn, should I carry her on myself, or what?”

- So a helpless woman is unattractive?

K.L.: In my opinion, no...

A.K.: A certain type of man likes a “woman-child” who needs to be held in his arms all the way.

K.L.: I want to clarify here. I don’t see anything wrong with a woman dissolving into a man: ironing his shirts, accompanying him to work, meeting him, giving birth to children. It’s good if she is comfortable being a wife and mother. But if he wants to do something, go ahead! I am for. The main thing is that it doesn’t compost my brains. A woman, in my opinion, should not work in order to bring in money. First of all, her purpose is family. The house should be warm and cozy, she should be an assistant to her man, a good mother to her children. What's bad about it? When a woman goes into her profession headlong, then it’s worse... As a rule, the price for this is loneliness.

Alexey: men begin to value family after 45 years. Photo: Arsen Memetov

There aren't enough men for everyone. What do you think about the women's initiative? Maybe you should take the bull by the horns yourself - make dates, confess your love?

A.K.: I love women's initiative. All my beautiful wives - civil or official - were active and proactive. This showed their strength and confidence. And when women demonstrate inaccessibility, men are lost.

K.L.: We are rather put off when a woman covers herself up, pretending to be a queen. She sits there waiting and thinks: “Why don’t you bastards come over? I’m open!” But it seems to the man that this fortress cannot be taken - it is not worth trying.

Let's talk about other typical women's mistakes. It happens that the first meeting with a man turns out to be the last. He just doesn't call or write anymore. Open our eyes: why is this happening? What did the woman do wrong?

A.K.: Anything! For example, she left her cut nails in the sink and her hair on the comb.

K.L.: This means the wrong person is nearby. When you love, you don't pay attention to little things. Lord, hair, nails? Yes, I'll clean up after you. You are valuable to me to others!

- How can a woman understand that a man does not have serious intentions?

K.L.: So as not to waste time on it? If you have been dating for a year, spring, autumn, winter, summer have passed, and he is silent, does not offer anything new, then ask yourself and him the question: “What’s next?” If a man continues to dynamite, then it is wiser to say goodbye to him.

So, you can openly ask: “Are you going to marry me?”

K.L.: One way or another, this question will arise if a woman wants to get married. You can remain modestly silent and wait. But there is a possibility that he will end up marrying someone else. This, as a rule, is where it all ends.

A.K.: In general, I am in favor of talking to each other without concealment. I'm a fan of absolute openness. Here Muska and I, thank God, are discussing everything. It’s clear that over 15 years of marriage there were very serious disagreements, but we overcame them because we immediately started talking about the problem. Neither she nor I are capable of carrying resentment or even a simple misunderstanding of the situation. It’s terrible when a wife is silent and turns away. I never fell into the idiocy of response silence: “Oh, is that so?!” Well, I won’t say a word!” Didn't start cold war according to the principle of “who will split first”.

K.L.: You can even yell. Words will come out through emotions.

And if there was betrayal, are you for the truth or for lies?

A.K.: Addressing men who are at that age when they are not only capable of cheating, but when they are still interested in it, I want to say: “Be silent like a fish, not a single word until the last!” And even after the last one!” And in an idiotic situation, when your wife returned home at the wrong time, and there is a strange woman in the bedroom, repeat: “It’s not what you think!”

- What should a woman say when her husband returns home at the wrong time?

K.L.: But a woman simply shouldn’t cheat.

- And believe in men's nonsense! As you get older, do you understand women better?

K.L.: Usually I think that I know everything about life and that it is I who control the woman and pull the strings. It seems that I have experience, and have read various smart books about the fact that it is better to remain silent here, not to notice, to avoid conflict. But sometimes I suddenly notice that the puppet is me! They're playing with me! You end up sitting there like a fool...

A.K.:…snookered! And you think: what was that?

Kamil: 50 years is a definite milestone. But even if we want our anniversary to pass with a slight touch of sadness, in the end it will still turn out funny. And what is the point in sadness? Everything is fine! Photo: Arsen Memetov

- Does male fidelity exist in principle? Especially in marriages concluded due to youth?

A.K.: Of course not! What happens in the body young man? Until the age of 45, the brain on a subconscious level repeats: “Take as much as possible! You are a conqueror, you are Genghis Khan - you must crush everything around you!”

K.L.:“You are a male!”

A.K.: And after 45 years (for some a little earlier, for others a little later) it begins chemical change body. The cerebellum, pituitary gland and hypothalamus send other signals: “Here is your kingdom, your princess, princesses - hold it, don’t give it to anyone.” A man begins to value his family like never before. In general, a woman just needs to wait until her husband turns 45 - and that’s it, she will feel stone wall, you can relax.

A.K.: I regret only one thing: when I was very young and stupid and separated from my first wife, Ira Bogushevskaya, whom I adore to this day, I greatly traumatized both her and our son. When we got married, I was 21 years old, when we separated - 24. Than younger man, the more selfish and tough he is, as a rule. Only at the age of 20 can you say to your wife: “Sorry, honey, I’m not interested. It was probably a mistake to get married so early.”

- Maybe it really is a mistake?

A.K.: But you can submit it differently! So as not to hurt. They say that it is better to chop than to cut into pieces. But you can chop with a rusty ax on a stump, or you can chop with a scalpel in the operating room. I don't regret anything anymore.

K.L.: And I am a fatalist: everything that happens in life must happen, there is no other way. Nevertheless, I urge young men to be more attentive to those around them, especially to their parents, whom we foolishly do not spare.

What do you say to those wives who managed to go with their husbands “from soldier to general”, after which it became difficult to compete with the young and perky fans of their spouses? How to protect the family hearth?

A.K.: The main thing is to survive the time of crisis for men. Meet your husband in a warm home, with pies and smart speeches... Be his support, demonstrate interest and inclusion. But without intrusive attention and, God forbid, surveillance. Then the competitors are not scary. It seems that we have gracefully looped our conversation.