Actors Share Thoughts on Tarasov on Centenary of Birth of 'Father of Russian Ice Hockey'

The Soviet national ice hockey team under Tarasov's leadership won all international competitions for nine years in a row, including three Olympics. Tarasov was truly committed to his work and left the team when the country's leadership attempted to impose its will on him. During one of the matches, he took the team to a changing room over a disagreement with a judge's decision, despite the presence of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in the stands. Soon, he was stripped of his Merited Coach of the USSR title for six months.

Sputnik talked with actors who have played Tarasov in Russian movies, and who shared with us their thoughts about the renowned coach.

Actor Valery Barinov, who played Tarasov in the 2014 tv series "Slava," which was devoted to world famous Soviet ice hockey player, Vyacheslav Fetisov, told Sputnik that it was a great responsibility to convey the emotional component of the individual whose achievements would forever remain in the memories of descendants.

"It was extremely interesting, because the person was very interesting. Probably, it was a difficult and responsible task because he was, in general, a complex man. All talented people are complex personalities," the actor said.

Sergey Gazarov, who played Tarasov in the 2012 film titled "Hockey Games," shared his colleague's opinion. The actor noted the importance of the "emotional range" and the need to show the audience first and foremost the human qualities of his character, who was very expressive, according to his contemporaries.

"I cannot say whether it was difficult or easy. It was not about that, the problem is that, when you are tasked with playing famous people, especially those who are still remembered and loved, the difficult part is that many people try to create a clone.

It is impossible," Gazarov told Sputnik.

Gazarov added that it was extremely challenging to "reach the level" of such a talent as Tarasov, therefore he, together with the director of the film, decided not to copy the coach's professional gestures or walk, and instead show the essence of his character.

ONE 'WHO MADE THE WORLD BELIEVE IN RUSSIAN HOCKEY'

It is thanks to people like Tarasov and head coach of Soviet ice hockey national team Arkady Chernyshev that Russia is now associated with hockey, Barinov went on.

"This person is outstanding. You see, what he [Tarasov] did at that time for hockey and the way he defended his principles, [for example,] when he took the team away [to a changing room] and when, so to speak, 'the system' did not spare him ... He made a tremendous contribution to hockey. Both he and Chernyshev are the people who made [the world] believe in Russian hockey. Hockey became our hallmark, Russian hockey," Barinov stressed.

In addition, Barinov noted the artistry of Tarasov, who understood the need for the team to win public acclaim.

"It was not just PR or something like that, not at all. All of it was for work. He used his artistic ability and talent for impersonation. He had the talent to show his emotions, so that it would have a desired impact on the players and the public," the actor clarified.

According to Gazarov, Tarasov repeatedly proved by his own example that the impossible was possible.

"[He was] an extraordinary person, who, in general, overturned the perception of what a Russian is capable of, not just in hockey, but in wider terms, because a Russian can move mountains if he wants to, if he has the desire and meets understanding," Gazarov concluded.

Tarasov died in Moscow in 1995 at the age of 76.