''Elegy' depicts the life and destiny of Russia´s greatest actor, Shalyapin. Shalyapin's greatness is inseparable from his tragedy.Genius in the human soul leads to severe trials and suffering. And when this genius is a Russian, it cannot escape the difficult, bitter fate of doubt. The cold Russian sky impedes the perfection of the vocal cords - so when the Lord blesses one of us with a voice, this means this person has been appointed to sacrifice his entire life to music. Yes, nothing more and nothing less - his life(...).' Alexander Sokurov