Unforgettable Sofico

A year has passed since the death of Sofico Chiaureli, an excellent Georgian actress. She was one of the artists above politics.

It was Sofico herself to choose her own name. Her parents placed two sheets of paper with "Elena" and "Sofico" written on them in a hat and the month-old baby decided her fate. As an accomplished actress she confessed in an interview with Kultura TV that she had always treasured her name as it means "wisdom".

Her mother, Veriko Andzhaparidze was not a less gifted actress than her daughter. As Sofico said her father "had been given a basket of talents from God... He could become a sculptor, an artist, a director, an actor, a writer, or a singer". Mikhail Chiaureli became famous as a director following the release of "It's a different time now" and "Otar's widow" movies. By the way Georgy Danelia who shot "Mimino", "Afonya" and "Kin-dza-dza" is Sofico's cousin.

Due to such a creative family 18-year-old Sofico was destined to go to the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). Already as a student she started appearing in films with roles in "Our yard" by Rezo Chkheidze, "On the banks of the Inguri" by Rondeli and "The Story of a Young Girl" by Chiaureli.

During her student years Sofico married a student of the directors' faculty Georgy Shengelay. Two sons grew up in their family. In 1980 they separated and Sofico devoted herself to Kote Makharadze, a sports announcer and an actor.

Sofico Chiaureli has over 100 film and theater roles. The viewers of then undivided Soviet Union grew to like her for delicate interpretations in "Cherchez la femme", "Don't grieve", "Repentance", "A million in a matrimonial basket" movies. She was the only Soviet actress who was awarded international prizes for "Best female role" 7 times! Sofico was invited by Alla Surikova, Georgy Danelia, Sergey Paradzhanov.

In November 2006 when the relations between Moscow and Tbilisi were aggravated enough Sofico Chiaureli shared her thoughts on the subject answering the questions of "Svoboda" radio audience. The people of culture were the first to experience the consequences of the breakdown in diplomatic ties. Galina Vishnevskaya invited Chiaureli to take part in Moscow performances, for the actress's 60th anniversary her colleagues were planning a celebration in the Russian capital but all these plans turned to be unfeasible. "I can't imagine my not coming to Moscow, not seeing my relatives and friends.

Giya Danelia, my cousin, lives there, there are my nephews and grand-nephews, friends, colleagues, all people I love so much", - the radio guest was complaining.

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