Alan and I spent what turned out to be a very special evening watching the film about Lev Razumovsky and reading as much as we could (in English) on the excellent website dedicated to him. As our evening progressed we felt more privileged to have his life, work and personality opened up to us.
During our visit to St Petersburg last year we were introduced to Lev’s art when we visited Elena in her flat. That occasion felt special enough.
But the film so intelligently and sensitively put together does so much more. Hearing and seeing him describe his youth, his only-near survival of the Leningrad siege and then the anti-semitic bullying he endured in the second world war are really humbling.
Then to see his sculpture and appreciate his determination to make his disability inconsequential are even more humbling and inspiring.
How he managed, through and after all those experiences of inhumanity and desperate physical hardship to maintain such a loving, playful and generous spirit in his work, his family life and friendships is quite extraordinary.
No wonder Lev’s daughters have been so determined to make sure his life, work and personality are on record for generations to come. The production team have made the film and website so well. The editing is just right — interviews are the right length and the chronology of his work and life cut with his family relationships keep our interest while building an all-round picture of someone who was all-round extraordinary. There should be if not one statue of him in St Petersburg then at least as many as there are of Pushkin!
Please accept our congratulations on this work you have done and our heart-felt thanks for introducing us to Lev Razumovsky as the best of human beings.