Dutchman Anton Corbijn took the prize for best directorial debut at Cannes in 2007 for his dramatization of the life of Ian Curtis, the soloist for the group “Joy Division.” Nonetheless, Anton is far from a debut director, something we were able to confirm for ourselves at the Moscow Photobiennale. Getting in to see “The Four Dimensions of Anton Corbijn,” a retrospective exhibition of this photographer and clip-maker, was not easy.

Now everybody is talking about the problem of global warming. Are you not afraid that Holland will be flooded someday?

It’s absolutely impossible to predict how the climate will change – whether it will flood or freeze. Whatever the case, I am worried about the environment and recently acquired an electric car. I also participate in some charity projects including Green Peace. But I’m not satisfied with myself – I could do more.  

In the film “Control,” you raise the problem of the fate of the artist in the European provinces. Is the formula “success at any price” still relevant?

Each individual makes his own moral choice. Suicide is a negative thing for me. Make use of your talent as it’s meant to be used; don’t throw it away! You have to hope that in even the most ordinary conditions of life, something beautiful will grow. I am not an advocate of drugs, but of creativity. At the same time, one has to show only the positive things. There are a multitude of things that can serve as inspiration.

The number of photographers in our time can be measured in hordes… So how can a beginning talent break through?

First of all, I would recommend giving up (laughs). And then climbing up. And do something wild, thirdly. I think that the digital age has given everybody a chance to become a photographer. This is good, of course, but it also leads to a lot of trash. There is no craft. No substance. Moreover, many are doing it as a side job, which makes the product of their creativity less important. Photography is an afterthought.

Does that mean that where there are more professional photography schools, as in the US, we can expect more professional photographers?

I didn’t study photography, but I know that these schools are more concerned with business. And for me, the most important thing is imagination. There they teach about organizing a studio and lighting, but not how to feel inspired.

Do you look at your life as an unending film? And do you ever cut yourself off from work?

Never. You know, everything I do is my life. But I don’t want to compare life with a film. I move from country to country, and each time life begins anew. It’s important to be able to savor every moment, without thinking about the future.

In your portraits of stars, there aren’t many Hollywood smiles…

Working with the stars involves very concrete goals, but I try to search for a variety of nonstandard manifestations of beauty…