When people talk about cinema, they first of all mean actors. Meanwhile, the main figure in the creation of a film is the director. Only he can make a picture outstanding or mediocre. An artist is capable of improving something (if chosen correctly) or worsening it (if the director made a mistake in choosing the performer). The book tells about the life and work of five wonderful directors who gave us amazing films that have become an integral part of the lives of millions, and who discovered brilliant artists for us. Some of the characters in the book sincerely glorified dubious phenomena. Someone later repented. Someone refused to do something that contradicted his artistic aspirations, and paid for it with the tragedy of obscurity... Why did Pyryev switch from “Kuban Cossacks” to Dostoevsky? “From what rubbish” did “Ordinary Fascism” emerge? Who contributed to the rise of Mikheil Chiaureli? How did Lev Kuleshov make Soviet cinematography? Why doesn't anyone know Boris Yashin? The book you are holding in your hands will answer these questions.