Good evening, Mr. Sobolev, could you tell us how the plot of the movie “20 cigarettes” appeared?

I don’t remember exactly. The idea of the movie “20 cigarettes” came into my mind 6–7 years ago, while I was sitting on the bench near The Botanical garden metro station, having a couple of beers. No use trying to recollect what kind of bottled beer it was.

What books, movies, pictures prompted the creation of the script?

None. That part of my life, when I came in touch with business people influenced the mood of the movie. For a fortnight I was on probation in an advertising agency. After the fortnight I understood, that it was not my cup of tea. Let alone beer. The emergence of the idea is related to that period of my life.

Were the characters drawn from life?

Many traits go back to my acquaintances, not to one person. The script had a number of editions, later it was written up by the movie-manager. He invited collaborators to enrich the script. So the concept and the story are mine. And the development I can’t claim my own entirely.

Do you find anything in common between your script and the book “99 franks” by Frederick Begbeder?

I’ll give you an eloquent answer. There are many movies about the war. Every movie has its creative idea, its plot, its story line, though all of them are about the war. The movie has nothing in common with the book. I am not in the position to attest the book. There are no ready models of creativity. It’s a personal matter.

One can feel some subtle irony at commercial advertising in the movie. Was it intended as a joke?

From the start the movie was to be about a man with the choice to make, to prefer the material or the spiritual. The problem of the choice was the cornerstone of the script. No kidding. I know that a lot has been added, many ornamental things.

Have you got a favorite character in the movie?

I am not attracted by any character. The viewer regards movie characters as live people of flesh and blood. I think of them as make believe. I am a professional. I am interested in the way they are made. It is difficult for me to assess my work objectively.

Could you give a slogan to the movie?

There had been one scene in the script where nothing happened; still it had been the core of the movie. I was motivated to shoot a movie with little action and deep essence.

What is the main idea of the movie?

Taking sides, making your choice in the world where everyone strives to achieve success. It is absolutely true about Moscow. In other areas of Russia changes haven’t been so drastic. The way of life has remained the same. In Moscow success makes you. As a matter of fact I attempted to reveal that success was not all in life. The most important is the decisive choice. God has endowed us with the ability to choose and has given us the opportunity to make the choice. Success is not of vital importance, there is something else that counts. No use shrinking from taking sides. No one knows with whom the correct choice lies. The movie has no ready answer; it poses the question and leaves it unanswered. No answer is available; it can’t be supplied either by philosophy or by any kind of art.

Pavel Lungin’s “The Island” was shown at the close of the Venetian festival. The script of the movie was also created by you. Is there anything in common between this movie and the ironical drama “20 cigarettes”?

The movie “The Island” is a bit different. In that script the man sins and then repents and makes amends, in “20 cigarettes” it is vice versa. In that movie he ascends, in “20 cigarettes” he descends.

Who thought of the title “20 cigarettes”?

I did.

Is it a challenge?

No whatsoever. Come up to any tobacconist and you will see the sign 20 cigarettes on any packet. It is common practice to state the number of cigarettes on a packet, as there are 20 of them, it brought about the title.

Don’t you worry about the viewer’s response? It might be negative.

Not a bit. There are movies with murders and drugs on the screen but cinema viewers are not prejudiced to see them. Cigarettes are neither drugs nor alcohol.

Is smoking, to your mind, a vice?

Smoking is unhealthy.

Is the title “20 cigarettes” an advertising stunt?

No, it isn’t. The title is prompted by the plot.

Describe the main characters of the movie.

From the beginning the script was true to life. Since then it has been changed a lot. It is difficult for me to define the main characters. While writing you don’t think about any definitions. They are given afterwards, but as a rule not by the script writer, by the viewers. Characters are formed in the process of writing, not invented at the start. Literary critics see through the images, delve into the depth of the characters. The script writer creates the development of the story line that fits the scene. Conclusions are drawn later on. I don’t think Tarkovsky could have foreseen what was said about his images, read into his characters by journalists. I am not in the position to compare myself with him. I mean, I depict what I feel, how I understand the events, but not in order to create a suitable image. Your question is for literary critics, no doubt. We have built up something. Let’s assume a man has done something…

So he has, but according to the plan…

Right you are. The plan of the building site, not of the signboard, that will be hung. It is useless to waste your time on the signboard, before the work has started. Initially I intended a low budget movie with a minimalistic approach of an author movie. There was no advertising, no brands. The movie was conceived as black and white. It was close to life. The lighting of a cigarette implied the beginning of the sequence. When the cigarette went out the sequence ended. It presented different extracts, they comprised the story. Roughly speaking, an average smoker smokes 20 cigarettes a day. He wakes up, unwraps a packet of cigarettes, fishes out one and starts smoking. The span of time while he is smoking is restricted by the length of the cigarette. So are the movements of the smoker. He can’t jog, jump, or get to places, where smoking is not allowed. The movie was based on the activity of the main character during this period of time. The story was touching, no tricks and stunts. The only expensive sequence was the car crash. Dialogues comprised the rest of the movie. In fact the characters went on talking all the way long with little action due. As simple as that, on a little money.