Russian film director Pavel Lungin will receive the title of Officer of the Legion of Honor, the highest state decoration of France. He is set to be given this title by the French ambassador.

      French Ambassador to Russia Jean de Gliniasty will present the award at his Moscow residence on March 12. A reception to mark the occasion is also scheduled for next week.

      Pavel Lungin is well-known in Europe for such his films as "Taxi Blues" (1990), "The Wedding" (2000), "The Island" (2006), "Tycoon" (2002) and "Tsar" (2009). Pictures "Taxi Blues" and "The Wedding" were screened and awarded at France’s most prestigious film festival, Cannes. "The Island" in 2006 closed another famed film marathon – the Venice Film Festival.

      Previously, the France’s highest state award was given to several Russian people, including ballet legend Maya Plisetskaya, conductors Valery Gergiev and Yury Bashmet, opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya, director Nikita Mikhalkov and others. 

Source: RIA Novosti samaratoday Image: livejournal