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Boris Vasil’yevich BARNET Edit Profile

filmmaker

Boris BARNET, USSR Film director. Honorary Artiste of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1935; Honorary Art Worker of Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic from 1951. Stalin Prize (1948). Communist Party member from 1943.

Background

BARNET, Boris was born on June 18, 1902 in Moscow.

Education

Graduated from the Higher Military School of Physical Education. Studied at the State Technical School of Cinematography under Lev Kuleshov.

Career

His grandfather was Thomas Barnet, an Englishman who settled in Russia in the 19th century, and started a printing business. Once appeared in a boxing ring. Appeared as an actor in Kuleshov’s films.

His first film was Miss Mend, 1926, (with F. Otsep). Two comedies followed, Girl with the Hat box, and House on Trubnaia Square, 1927-1928. He made three films in the 1930s: Thaw.

Outskirts (in which he experimented with sound and music), and The Bluest of Seas. During the Stalinist period when films were tightly controlled, he did virtually nothing. Became very depressed, which led to alcoholism.

Committed suicide. His earlier films became internationally recognized classics of the early and best period of experimental Soviet cinema. During his life, remained in total obscurity in his own country and was unknown in the West. Rediscovered in the late 1970s.

Two major seasons of his films took place in the UK in 1979 and 1980. Rediscovered at last in his own country. Several books have since been written about his work in the USSR.

Politics

Member, Communist Party, since 1943.

Membership

Member, Communist Party, since 1943.