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Alexander MosinRussian actor
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Talented Actor with an Unconventional Career Path
- Early Life and Youth
- Education and Entrepreneurship
- Alexander Mosin in Film
- Personal Life
- Current Endeavors
Talented Actor with an Unconventional Career Path
Alexander Mosin is a Russian actor whose creative biography is closely tied to the renowned director Alexei Balabanov. He appeared in Balabanov's films such as "Cargo 200," "Morphine," and "The Stoker." Despite lacking formal acting education, Mosin requested not to be referred to as an actor and instead presented himself as a successful entrepreneur from St. Petersburg.
Early Life and Youth
Alexander was born on September 15, 1969, in Leningrad. As a sturdy and short-statured young man, he engaged in sports and participated in boxing and judo sections. After finishing school, he enrolled in an electrical engineering college but was later conscripted into the Soviet Armed Forces and joined the airborne troops. Mosin actively took part in combat operations in Afghanistan. Upon the withdrawal of Soviet forces from the country, returning servicemen formed patriotic clubs and veteran organizations to support demobilized soldiers. Mosin became a member of the Leningrad Council of Airborne Troops Veterans.
Education and Entrepreneurship
In 1995, Mosin enrolled in the Admiral S. O. Makarov State Maritime and River Fleet University. He also completed his studies at the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. Mosin prefers not to dwell on this period of his biography, as his entrepreneurial activities were associated with criminal circles in the city on the Neva.
Alexander Mosin in Film
Mosin's entry into the film industry was largely accidental. Balabanov was searching for a serviceman with real accolades and was advised to approach a veteran organization. Alexander's first work in his filmography was the melodrama "It Doesn't Hurt," where he portrayed a paratrooper. The film also starred Renata Litvinova, Alexander Yatsenko, Alena Barkova, and Nikita Mikhalkov. The shooting process brought the director and the non-professional actor closer together, as they had both served in Afghanistan. Balabanov referred to Mosin as a member of his family, and they would solve various everyday problems and go mushroom picking together. In an interview, Alexander described the beginning of their friendship:
"We exchanged phone numbers, and then we parted ways, infused with incredible energy. And at one in the morning, Leshka called and said, 'What are you doing? Come over.' By the beginning of the second act, I was at his place. From that moment until his last day, I never left his side." Balabanov was attracted to Mosin by his criminal past, and he perfectly suited the archetype of his characters. In the film "Cargo 200," Mosin played a police officer and the assistant to the main anti-hero, Zhurov, portrayed by Alexei Poluyan. Balabanov depicted the brutal customs prevailing in Soviet provinces against the backdrop of the war in Afghanistan. As someone who had suffered from police abuse in his youth, it was important for the director to showcase the maniacal tendencies of law enforcement officers on screen.
In the film "The Stoker," Balabanov once again cast Mosin in the role of a sniper, who, along with the characters played by Mikhail Skryabin and Yuri Matveev, served in Afghanistan and then became a gangster upon their return. According to the film's plot, the former paratrooper turned hitman was willing to justify any crime. In Balabanov's final film, "I Also Want It," Alexander appeared once again as a criminal authority. The film's screenplay consisted of only 12 pages:
"I understood perfectly well what Balabanov meant. In principle, even a synopsis would have been enough for me. He writes so brilliantly that after reading it, you can see the whole film."
The native of the Northern capital struggled to accept the news of his friend's death, temporarily halting his acting career. In 2015, Mosin played a minor role as a Balabanov-style gangster in Vasily Sigarev's film "Country of Oz." The director paid tribute to the creator of the "Brother" duology, inviting the non-professional actor and informing Alexander in advance.
Personal Life
Alexander is reserved in interviews when asked about his personal life. He is married and has raised a son and a daughter in his marriage. His children studied in Finland, and Mosin often visited his family members. He primarily shares photos from film sets on social media.
Current Endeavors
Mosin continues to expand his filmography with new projects. On September 21, 2023, he appeared in the film "I, Goddess" alongside Alexandra Bortich in the lead role. He also participated in the filming of the movie "Summer Will End" by directors Maxim Arbugaev and Vladimir Munkuev.
