| Balakirev the Buffoon | |
| Starring: | Oleg Yankovsky Aleksandr Zbruyev Nikolai Karachentsov |
| Director: | Mark Zakharov |
| Producer: | Felix Kleiman Vladimir Dostal |
| Cinematography: | Eugene Guslinsky Vladimir Fostenko Alexey Naydenov July Olshvang |
| Music: | Sergei Rudnytsky |
| Studio: | Lenkom Theatre |
| Runtime: | 162 minutes |
| Language: | Russian |
| Country: | Russia |
Balakirev The Buffoon (Russian: Шут Балакирев|Shut Balakirev) is a 2002 Russian televised version of 1999 Lenkom theatrical presentation, written by Grigori Gorin.[1] Theatrical version directed by Mark Zakharov, televised version by Nikolay Skuyibin.
Buffoon of the court circle, Ivan Balakirev,[2] is a constant participant of the Tzar's festivities and buffoonery. Under the will of the circumstances he was drawn into the intricate relations inside the court and inside the royal family...
Based on a real story set time in a Peter The Great era.
Ivan Alexandrovich Balakirev was a trusted servant of Peter I and Catherine I since 1699. In the time of the empress Anne he became an official court buffoon.
One of the version around the Balakirev surname etymology is that it formed from Bala kire, a tatar for stubborn kid.
Ksenofont Polevoy published a book entitled Collection of anecdotes by Balakirev, using the real name of Ivan Balakirev as his pseudonym. It's in fact a collection from various people and sources.