A Different Nikita Sergeyevich

Mr. Mikhalkov has been suspected of presidential ambitions for a long time. Handsome and hedonistic, he was clearly dissatisfied with his cinematic mission. Mr. Mikhalkov saw somewhere in the distance the outlines of a mighty great Russia - a certain territory of love awaiting a Messiah of its own. Why not him? When being elected chairman of the Russian Film-Makers' League, he brilliantly demonstrated his political mettle as a public speaker, strategist, leader and, above all, master!

Has the crisis in Russian cinema been overcome? Don't ask. The main thing is that we have a Little Father.

Mikhalkov's statement is more than mere words. President Yeltsin's family and closest entourage must make a choice as to the successor of the ailing head of state. They are unlikely to accept the bankrupt Chernomyrdin, the maverick Luzhkov, the unpredictable Lebed, or the caretaker Primakov. Then why not Mr. Mikhalkov? The more so that Boris Berezovsky, that mirror of Russian opportunism, has promised to help the film director if he makes up his mind.

The film director seems to have made up his mind. It may not be exactly his role, but he is sure to play it brilliantly. For he is an unmatched actor, at least as good as a certain Reagan you might recall.

And what about us? What we have to do is to rejoice that this will be a different Nikita Sergeyevich from one Khrushchev of yore.