Avatar Movie no substitute for Chekhov: Medvedev

Science-fiction epic "Avatar", called a cinematic sensation for its use of state-of-the-art 3-D cameras and motion capture technology, has become the biggest earning film of all time, recent figures showed. "New technologies have appeared but 'Avatar' will never supplant theatre even though it is very beautiful, very complicated and very expensive," Medvedev said on a visit to Taganrog, a port in southern Russia where Chekhov was born on January 29, 1860. "Despite all difficulties, theatrical art is still immortal," Medvedev told a meeting of top theatre directors in televised remarks. The Kremlin chief noted that theatre occupied an important place in Russia where some 600 theatres boast a total annual audience of 30 million people. At the meeting with Russian directors, Medvedev urged Russians not to emulate the West in their approach to dramatic art, even though he indicated Russian theatrical tradition had also seen better times. "I am not sure that everyone who comes to see Hamlet knows its plot," he said, referring to average theatre-goers in Russia, Ria-Novosti reported. "But still, we need to retain our advantage (over the West on theatre), if it exists, while overcoming gaps in other fields." Medvedev also professed his love for Chekhov, saying he had developed a keen interest in the writer in his early teens and had read all of Chekhov's works, including early humour stories as well as his personal letters. "Honestly, I am happy about this because if I didn't do it then I don't know when I would do it," Medvedev told the meeting. Medvedev, whose father was a university professor, has said in the past he was an avid reader of classics and counted the German writer Erich Maria Remarque among his favourite writers. Medvedev laid a bouquet of white roses at a Chekhov monument as dozens of locals cheered him, national television showed. At the meeting with the directors, Medvedev also waxed philosophical, indicating Chekhov's birthday made him think about his own legacy. "Today I have thought about what Chekhov had time to do and caught myself thinking a not very pleasant thought -- Chekhov passed away when he was 44." "(By that time) he had completed his life path, having created his immortal works. I am also 44."