Russian director Stanislav Govorukhin is well known for his dramas, depicting the social problems of modern society. This time though he has surprised film fans by making “Artistry”, a highly optimistic comedy about love and friendship.

It's only now that actress Evgenia Dobrovolsksya feels calm and confident next to director Stanislav Govorukhin, who never smiles, at least in public.

She still remembers those first harsh days of work on “Artistry”.

Evgenia Dobrovolsksya in ‘Artistry

“I stopped being afraid of the director probably only on the third day . Along with the other actors I felt like I was a young student, who knew almost nothing about acting,” she said.

Dobrovolskaya may have been shy at first but, like her co-stars “Artistry”, she's a real professional, which contributed to the film being completed within three weeks.

Her character is an unlucky actress, but despite all her difficulties she never gives up and keeps dreaming about her “star role.”

Meanwhile, she tries to help everyone around her and make her friends' lives brighter.

There are no “bad people” in the story at all – a surprise even to the director himself.

“Really? Not a single negative character? Well, it's a film about good people and very good people,” Stanislav Govorukhin commented.

He says his next film will be about the hard life of a weaver.