The Iconic Role of Iron Button: How the Film “Scarecrow” Led Ksenia Filippova to Find Her True Love

On October 17th, actress Ksenia Filippova marks her birthday. The fate of actors who achieve fame early is often challenging, with many becoming typecast by a single role. However, Filippova, who portrayed the character Iron Button in the film “Scarecrow,” considers herself fortunate. She did not pursue a long acting career but thanks to her participation in Roland Bykov’s renowned drama, she met the most important man in her life.

Amidst a wave of lighthearted school-themed movies, Roland Bykov’s drama “Scarecrow” exploded like a bomb in a field of daisies—unexpected, bold, and deeply realistic. At the time, it was widely believed that bullying didn’t exist in Soviet schools. Officials insisted there were no harsh children or childhood traumas, but audiences saw otherwise, calling “Scarecrow” a film that profoundly shook perceptions.

This was exactly the vision of Roland Bykov, a sensitive director with a deep understanding of children. That’s why he carefully selected the lead actors—they needed to authentically portray the natural toughness and vulnerable rawness of growing adolescents.

Initially, the role of Iron Button, the unofficial class leader, was meant for Tatyana Protsenko, famous as Malvina from “The Adventures of Buratino.” However, two months before auditions, Tatyana broke her leg in a bicycle accident and was unable to participate. Due to this injury, she also had to decline the role of Little Red Riding Hood, which later launched Yana Poplavskaya’s career.

A new casting was announced, and among hundreds of hopefuls, director Bykov chose Ksenia Filippova. Ksenia, a homebody living near Chistye Prudy, had no prior film experience and had never been to Kalinin, where filming took place. Yet, her audition was so natural that Bykov was certain she was perfect to play the ruthless and relentless Mironova.

Her cold, unwavering gaze, metallic tones in her voice, and commanding gestures made her embodiment flawless.

“No one—do you hear?—no one should speak to her. Let her feel our collective contempt. And anyone who breaks this oath will face the harshest boycott,” was the chilling instruction.

Later, the young debutante admitted that the first days after filming were emotionally difficult; portraying intense emotions on camera was challenging. Off-set, the young actors quickly became friends, making it strange to laugh and fool around behind the scenes, then cry and hate each other while reading their lines.

Director Bykov was strict, telling the children, “I won’t make you cry with glycerin tears—you will cry genuinely and feel everything deeply.”

And they did. Years later, Ksenia revealed in interviews the long psychological conversations Bykov had with her, discussing her character and how to use gestures and intonations to convey different facets of personality.

“Two hours before shooting, Bykov would lull me into a trance—hypnotizing me like a boa constrictor with a rabbit—so I had to act. Of course, in real life, I wasn’t as harsh as my Iron Button. Although at school, I did sometimes torment newcomers. So Bykov rightly noticed my hidden maximalism,” the actress later confessed.

There was a moment when she wanted to flee the set, but after a long talk with Bykov, she found the strength to stay. She convinced her 13-year-old self that after filming, she would reward herself with a dog using her earnings. As soon as she received her first paycheck, she immediately went to the pet market to buy a spaniel.

“During filming, the children behaved perfectly,” recalled the film’s cinematographer Anatoly Mukasey, “and Bykov and I played the role of little tyrants—we lightly intimidated them: ‘Guys, film stock is scarce in the country. We’re shooting on expensive foreign film. Every extra take will be at your expense!’”

“For example, I was supposed to raise a stone with a fierce face at Shmakova but couldn’t help smiling,” Iron Button recalled about the shoot. “Bykov scolded me, but after reviewing the footage, he said it was fine—that my snarl looked like a bloodthirsty executioner’s.”

Outside the filming area, there was no hostility among the young actors. Ksenia often visited Dmitry Egorov, Marina Martanova, and Kristina Orbakaite with her pet. The filming forged strong friendships, and they frequently gathered for birthdays and celebrations. Kristina, daughter of the already famous Prima Donna, blended seamlessly with the group, living with her grandmother and attending a local school, rarely seeing her mother.

“Kristina was a simple girl back then, without star tantrums. She lived with her grandmother and only saw her mother on holidays. Her life was like any other Soviet child’s: school, music classes, friends. But after graduation, everyone drifted apart and married young. Many years later, when filming a documentary about ‘Scarecrow,’ we all gathered at Lena Sanaeva’s house, but there wasn’t much to talk about,” Ksenia shared.

Did Filippova want to continue acting like many other debutantes? No. She credits wise Roland Bykov for inoculating them against stardom.

“You will be offered other roles, journalists will write flattering articles about you, fans will ask for autographs, but remember—none of this really concerns you. It stuck in my mind so much that I thought: I will always be ‘Button’ to everyone, so why become an actress if I have to play little bunnies at children’s parties?” Filippova reasoned wisely.

After finishing school, the actress chose a practical path, enrolling in the Economics Faculty at MGIMO, a decision she never regretted. Although she appeared once more in a minor role in the children’s film “Troika,” she firmly closed the chapter on her acting career.

However, Filippova is certain that her role in “Scarecrow” was pivotal in her life because it led her to meet her true love.

She met her future husband through correspondence. After the film’s release, Bykov received numerous letters from teenagers, many of which he read and replied to. One letter from a St. Petersburg student caught his attention. The writer asked profound, even philosophical questions about the film’s elements, such as the function of the orchestra and lighting. Bykov showed the letter to Ksenia, who found some questions challenging enough to consult her mother for answers.

It later turned out the letter’s author was not a schoolboy but a second-year university student. Their correspondence blossomed, and three months later, the young man traveled from St. Petersburg to Moscow with a large bouquet. Ksenia was 14; he was 20. Their heartfelt meetings and letters continued for four years until he proposed. They have now been together for 36 years, raising a son and living in harmony.

Ksenia kept in touch with Roland Bykov until his final days. “Scarecrow” was his last feature film. For several years, she worked at a foundation bearing his name, then in a bank and an advertising agency, before settling in a private art gallery.

She fondly remembers Bykov and still regards him as her greatest mentor.

Photos: Legion Media, Persona Stars

Explore useful articles in Personal Growth & Self-Discovery as of 22-10-2024. The article titled " The Iconic Role of Iron Button: How the Film “Scarecrow” Led Ksenia Filippova to Find Her True Love " offers in-depth analysis and practical advice in the Personal Growth & Self-Discovery field. Each article is carefully crafted by experts to provide maximum value to readers.

The " The Iconic Role of Iron Button: How the Film “Scarecrow” Led Ksenia Filippova to Find Her True Love " article expands your knowledge in Personal Growth & Self-Discovery, keeps you informed about the latest developments, and helps you make well-informed decisions. Each article is based on unique content, ensuring originality and quality.