Russian director Pyotr Todorovsky dies aged 87

Celebrated Russian director Pyotr Todorovsky has died at the age of 87. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker passed away at a hospital in Moscow, Russia on Friday (24May13) following a long illness.
Todorovsky served in Russia’s Red Army during World War II and many of his movies were based on his experiences of military life.
He made his directorial debut in 1962 with the drama Never (Nikogda), and he was named a People’s Artist of Russia in 1985, the same year in which his film, Wartime Romance (Voyenno-Polevoy Roman), was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
His controversial 1989 movie Intergirl (Interdevochka), which centred on prostitution, a taboo topic in the Soviet Union for many years, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan.
Todorovsky is survived by his film producer wife Mira Todorovskaya and director son Valery Todorovsky.