The book is based on interviews with film director Alexander Sokurov and his associates and friends - screenwriter Yuri Arabov, artist Yuri Cooper, actor Leonid Mozgov, director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky. In dialogues about art, profession and life, a multifaceted and largely unexpected portrait of Alexander Sokurov is created, previously unknown facets of his creativity and personality are revealed. Interviews alternate with art historical essays, revealing various aspects of the director’s film language and offering a new perspective on a number of his projects. The emphasis in the book is on the little-known works of Alexander Sokurov - early documentaries, theatrical productions. Sergei Uvarov (b. 1987) is a cultural scientist and journalist. Ph.D. in History of Arts. Member of the Union of Composers of the Russian Federation, member of the artistic council of the Youth branch of the Union of Composers of the Russian Federation. Author of the monograph “The Musical World of Alexander Sokurov” (2011). The cover design uses a photo from the personal archive of A. N. Sokurov.