Alexander Pankratov-Cherny is a famous actor and film director, a man full of sparkling explosive energy. In his films, including “We are from Jazz”, “Cruel Romance”, “Winter Evening in Gagra”, “Ward No. 6”, “Impotent” and other wonderful films, the viewer sees and feels that his heroes are organic, alive , real. About how the author miraculously escaped death as a child, about the hungry years at the theater school, about a happy acquaintance with Vysotsky, about Pankratov the poet, difficult relations with the KGB, directing in the army, about how Alexander Vasilyevich risked his health on filming of "Siberiada", censorship, bans on his films and much more - in the story of an honest man who loves life and the work to which he is devoted. During his bright creative path, the author met many talented people, among his friends are Dzigan, Vysotsky, Evstigneev, Konchalovsky , Mikhalkov, Shakhnazarov and many others. The author himself claims that he owes his success in life solely to his teachers and friends.