Too Young To Die: Vladimir Vyssotsky

Vladimir Vysozki played to sold-out halls, and almost everyone knew some of his more than 600 songs, although they were never officially published during Soviet times. With his very lyrical lyrics, which offensively denounced everyday socialist life, and his unique voice, the singer-songwriter was considered by many to be the "voice of Russia". At the latest through his marriage to the French actress Marina Vlady, he also achieved cult status abroad. A video message recorded by Vysozki to Warren Beatty, however, remains unanswered. Vysozki was anything but a spiritualized system critic. He lived a restless and wild life: he raced through Moscow in his Mercedes, wore hip clothes, smoked seemingly all the time, often got drunk, and took drugs. He made his last appearance on July 18, 1980 - as Hamlet in Moscow's Taganka Theater. A few days later, on July 25, Vladimir Vysotsky died of heart failure, at the age of only 42. His artistic life seems schizophrenic at first glance - on the one hand he is in the resistance and thus virtually an enemy of the state - the secret service KGB has more than one eye on him. At the same time, he is a star who gives great performances and travels halfway around the world with the Taganka Theater. In conversations with his son Nikita Wyssozki as well as with companions, friends, admirers and successors, the film goes on a search for traces in Russia. Even today, musicians sing his songs in pedestrian zones and his lyrics seem more relevant than ever.