100 years since the birth of Viktor Astafyev celebrated at the RUSSIA EXPO

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The International RUSSIA EXPO held a series of events to mark the centenary of the birth of Viktor Astafyev, Russian writer, master of rural and military prose. The program of events included lectures, masterclasses, film screenings and meetings with people who knew the author personally.

Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the RUSSIA EXPO, took part in the "Astafyev Readings" and read an excerpt from the story "Tsar-fish" ("Queen Fish").

"But not in vain it is said: woman is a creature of God, the judgment and punishment for her special. You can't get to him, to God, without prayer. So, take the deserved punishment, and if you once wanted to prove that you are a man, then stay a man! Don't sulk, don't sniffle, don't make up your own prayers, and don't deceive yourself and people by pretenses. Do you expect forgiveness, mercy? From whom? Nature, brother, is also female! So, to each his own, and to God his own! Free the woman from yourself and from eternal guilt, take all the torments in full for yourself and for those who at this moment, under this sky, on this earth, are torturing the woman, doing evil things to her," read Natalia Virtuozova.

Merited Artist of Russia Boris Galkin became a participant of "Astafyev Readings". He told about his communication with Viktor Astafyev and the performance "Cheerful Soldier" in the Moscow Gubernsky Theater, where he plays the author of the story.

"I was lucky enough to know Viktor Petrovich personally, I met with him twice — in Krasnoyarsk, and in his small homeland, in the village of Ovsyanka. And today at the Moscow Gubernsky Theater I play Astafyev. This is Viktor Petrovich's story "Cheerful Soldier", Boris Galkin added.

In addition, writer Valery Ivanov-Tagansky and singer Galina Uletova performed before the guests of the Exposition as part of the "Astafyev Readings". They also read excerpts from Viktor Astafyev's works and shared their memories related to him.

The first event dedicated to Viktor Astafyev at the Exposition was a meeting with the famous cameraman, publicist, photographer Anatoly Zabolotsky — he personally knew Viktor Astafyev and told the guests of the Exposition about the writer's life and his works. His presentation was followed by a lecture devoted to the author's work and his place in literature. In addition, there was a screening of the documentary "Viktor Astafyev. Cheerful Soldier". In it the writer tells about the Great Patriotic War, which he went through as a soldier. The recording was made two years before his death.

Afterwards, the visitors had a masterclass on weaving toys from straw: this is a traditional craft of the Krasnoyarsk region — the homeland of Viktor Astafyev.