Liudmila Konovalova: "Prima"
There are moments in life in which we are confronted with that (sometimes) quite difficult task... its name is „making decisions".
Many people and I were touched by the short film called „Prima". A touchingly simple film with and about Liudmila Konovalova.
This Prima Ballerina always enchanted me by her capacity of laughing about herself – for further details just read my interview with her from April 5th, 2018: https://www.attitude-devant.com/blog/2018/6/11/liudmila-konovalova-interview
After reading that you'll understand much better Margot Fonteyn's quote; "The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous"
Having known each other for quite many years, it is always a joy to meet her for an intimate talk „between friends". Every time she surprises me with her insights, observations, points of view, opinions and extreme honesty. All points that lead us to understand this beautiful, talented artist that happens to be a very intelligent, sensible and critical woman. But these are exactly the points that make a great Artist: apart from talent and the things one can „pick up", the difference between an Artist and an „Executor" is always total Honesty, Insights, Criticism and so on…
„What moved you into being so open about your life, Liudmila?", I ask.
„The film's director, Alisa Aslanova, wanted neither something „usual" nor create „A Cinderella Story". She approached me one day and simply said: „Why don't you tell YOUR own story? You understand?"
„I see... I think I do...", I stutter.
„People think that all is very easy for me – for them it is „obvious" that I should turn 32 perfect fouettés – but they do not see how much work is there to be able to do it... I wanted to tell the truth about myself. Not about what I wear or how I live, not that. I needed to speak about my past. And how it is responsible for all I am now. My „growing-up" as a human being not only as an Artist. Therefore I needed to speak openly about my mother's death, about the difficulties of growing- up with my younger brother, about having no money and less to eat and even about going to supermarkets to ask for the „rests" before they were thrown away... Difficult times but extremely important in my life!"
I could not stop a comment that was just on my lips. „In times of extremely superficiality – in which everyone is creating a „virtual persona" (you know the one that walks on red carpets, dress designer's clothes and is always smiling), you go completely „against the trend" and opens yourself freely – we need more of those examples!"
Copyright: Vienna State Ballet / Michael Pöhn
„Oh, but it was not easy, Ricardo, not at all... Until the last minute, before the film premièred, I was not sure if I had done the right thing and asked even if we shouldn't cut some scenes... But I was advised by Friends, the director and the great Brigitte Stadler not to do so. Brigitte Stadler helps me a lot – since we first worked together on „Giselle" during my first season in Vienna, 9 years ago, we haven't stopped. Private coaching is somehow so important… The great ones always gave their “pupils” their best… Just think of Madame Danilova… and, yes, I always had the total support of so many who are dear and important to me!"
„I can well imagine that, at the same time, this experience must have been beautiful but also „a nightmare" to you... „
„Exactly. I had to search so many things through my past, to fully understand the real me who is on stage nowadays... just like that, I could at last join those „two Liudmilas" - the one in the present and the one who was hidden in the past", she says.
Her testimony about herself is serious – she hardly smiles when telling us her story. Later she told me: „ It was very difficult to work, especially when I had to record again the speech of some scenes – which had not been taped quite properly. „To go back" into that mood and re-record what I sad said, quite spontaneously before. That was hard... „
A film that I'd much recommend you and which you can see here: https://www.attitude-devant.com/blog/2019/9/12/premire-of-prima-a-portrait-of-liudmila-konovalova-principal-vienna-state-ballet
To be quite honest: THE BIGGEST „WAKE-UP CALL" EVER.
That's what's all about in life...
Not about judging but simply „looking at things differently"
