Aleksandr Stolper
Renowned for his deeply humanistic lens on cinema, Aleksandr Stolper was born in 1907 in Pskov, Russia. He was active in the film industry from the 1930s through to the 1980s, predominantly crafting films in the genres of drama and war, with his most famous works including "The Alive and the Dead" and "Story of a Real Man." While Stolper never won awards at the major film festivals, his work was recognized by his home country, receiving the USSR State Prize. Stolper's authorial style was characterized by his poignant depiction of the human spirit in times of adversity, often reflecting the hardships endured by his fellow countrymen. To know Stolper's films is to appreciate the director's deep sensitivity to the struggles and triumphs of the human condition.