Friends!

Today expire 108 years from the birth of Victor Ivanov - Ukrainian film director, screenwriter and writer, author of such wonderful films as "Chasing Two Hares", "Oleksa Dovbush", "Shelmenko-Batman" and others.

Victor was born Kozyatyn in 1909, was the son of a military paramedic Michael Spiridonovich and housewife Tatyana Andreevna. When the boy was 10 years old, father died, because of cholera. The family lived very poorly, Victor started to work when he was 13 years – as a messenger. Then entered a trade school, after that - learned to be the assistant engineer. Victor had to finish studies at the Moscow Institute of Railway Transport. But he chose a different path, entered the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography, hit the studio director Sergei Eisenstein. He said the sacred phrase: "A serious young man that probably will shoot comedy ...".

Victor was extremely talented, and loved to invent stories, but also skillfully played chess. When World War II began, Victor went to the front – became a platoon commander flamethrower. Took part in forcing the Dnieper, was twice wounded and hard wounded.

But humor Viktor Ivanov had in his blood. The terrible events that he had to endure, he often recalled jokingly. Said that once even fought with the enemy in the Dovzhenko Film Studio.

He really wanted to get back to work after the war, but he cannot. So a few years Ivanov had to move other cities to work elsewhere as the artistic director, or just repair equipment. After that Alexander Dovzhenko personally helped him get to the studio in Kiev.

The first film of Viktor Ivanov was shot when he was 47. Among his films there are the film adaptations of Ukrainian classics to a wider audience. "Chasing Two Hares" director started filming in 1961. And, surprisingly, only few believed in Ivanov. But he managed to create a film that entered the history of cinema!

Inwork Viktor Ivanov was demanding. Especially for actors. Mostly he was strict to Margaret Krynytsina – who played the leading role. Like, she got this place through her husband, who was the editor studio. To her director often screamed, but in fact he got the desired result. The original tape was on Ukrainian. She was subsequently duplicated in Russian. But a few years ago, the original record was found and now "Chasing Two Hares" on mother tongue you can easily look online.

Over the life, the director did not get any benefit from such a popular movie. With family, they continued to live in the dormitory, received a small salary. State Prize of Ukraine Oleksandr Dovzhenko Ivanov received posthumously. Director died a few months after the film "Snow Wedding" after a long illness.

Friends, I we all sometimes think that we are too adult in order to change life, or do something monumental. But this is not true. And Viktor Ivanov example shows us this. Be creative, make experiments, do not be afraid to take risks!