Passing of Russian actor Oleg Yankovsky

Oleg Yankovsky took on the role of the Metropolitan Philip, the only adversary of Ivan the Terrible, in Tsar by Pavel Lungin, an historical panorama presented in Un Certain Regard. Also known for his roles in films by Andreï Tarkovski, the Russian actor Oleg Yankovsky died of cancer this Wednesday in Moscow at the age of 65.

“This is an enormous loss for Russia,” declared director Pavel Lounguine. “Oleg was the most talented and the most distinguished of all Russian actors. His role was a tragic one in Tsar, one of a man who sacrifices his own life to fight against tyranny. As if he had chosen this last role to say farewell to audiences he so adored.”