Category: Uncategorized

By Kristina Moskalenko Remarkably, Netflix acquired the rights to Dovlatov, the film by Russian director Alexei German Jr. After all, Baryshnikov is well-known in the West, but Dovlatov? So why did the American giant choose to buy a Russian film that depicts six days in the life of an obscure Soviet writer Sergei Dovlatov, unpublished…

By Kristina Moskalenko for Afisha.ru The iconic Russian rock band Mumiy Troll has just dropped a dazzling new music video for their latest single, Summer Without the Internet — and it’s the ultimate anthem for unplugging. With its infectious vibe and playful message, the track invites fans to ditch their screens, step away from gadgets,…

By Kristina Moskalenko It’s not just the British royals who are busy. Across Europe and beyond, royal families balance centuries of tradition with the demands of modern public life — and, in some cases, their own sources of private income. So how much do they really work, and where does the money come from? Forget…

By Kristina Moskalenko David Downton exudes an unexpected modesty. His voice is soft, his British accent impeccable, and his vocabulary so rich that I found myself reaching for Oxford English Dictionary. We meet at Claridge’s, where he holds the enviable title of “artist-in-residence.” “It simply means I paint the guests that the hotel selects,” he…

By Kristina Moskalenko A portrait of Ernest Hemingway is instantly recognisable, a symbol of literary modernity with global resonance. But what did the writer himself choose to display on his walls, and what did the study look like where he produced his most celebrated works? The answers lie in his sun-filled, airy residence on Key…

By Kristina Moskalenko Career failures are not a typical topic of conversation. For Russian-British financier Stuart Lawson, however, they are a favourite. He has even created a masterclass, “Successful Failure.” “My career as a banker spans 35 years, and I’ve made mistakes,” he says, pouring tea. “But I’ve come to realise that much could have been…