04-25-2008, 08:02 AM
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 | The Russophile | | Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 468
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| Re: Dukhless - Soulless - Russian Book Review
I noticed an NYT interview with the author Sergei Minaev. Quote:
Q: So what you write about in the book, that was earlier in your life?
A: Yes, I had a period when I was 24-28 years old. I was part of a heavy scene that began Friday evening and as a rule ended on Monday morning. This was about age 24-27. Now, I don’t go out except for exceptional cases, like when Frederic is here, then we go out. Now, we get together at home and talk, the same format as in kitchens in the 1980s. That’s much more pleasant because you’re surrounded only by those people whom you like. There’s none of that showing off. It’s completely peaceful.
Only the interiors, and just slightly the dialogues. In principle everything remains the same on this scene. And of course foreigners go wild in Moscow. They immediately go crazy.”
Q: Beigbeder’s book is about that, isn’t it?
A: It’s a total reflection of Moscow through the eyes of a foreigner in 2007. They go crazy because there’s a sea of money here.
Everything is permissible. They call this true freedom, but true freedom does not consist of buying relatively inexpensive prostitutes and cocaine and snorting it in public places. This is not a sign of true freedom. I think under Pol Pot in Kampuchea, some members of society could also easily use narcotics and buy women for the night.
No one speaks of there being true freedom there....
We sold the screen rights to “Dukhless” for a record sum for this market. The film hasn’t been made yet because there are big problems with the screenplay. Right now I remain in the wine business. I write.
| There is a great deal more content in the interview at the NYT website. |
