Quote Originally Posted by waxwing
Well, Friendy, thanks for the question, I just looked at that bit again and it helped me to understand better... so, if I understand correctly, he left her because she hadn't told him that she was the director of the 'plant' or whatever the right word is... and he felt emasculated in some way by her having a higher social status.

But it seems a little harsh to judge him on that? Anyhow, there are probably several other important points I didn't understand on first viewing.
You understood it correctly, waxwing (though most likely the fact that she lied to him upset him more than the fact she was a director). There are several moments in the film when his rather conservative views on women issue are shown. He thinks that the woman should be a housewife and her place is in the kitchen, that there's man's work and women's work. If I am not mistaken he talks about his views at the picnic (the one with his friends) when he is talking with Александра, but the last time I watched it was rather long ago so I can confuse things. And that episode when he said he won't tolerate being ordered "На том простом основании, что я мужчина" thus implying that for a woman being ordered is OK.
I neither judge him nor blame him (a lot of men have such views, it's not only their fault, that's the way they were brought up), I actually think he is a good person, I'm just pointing out his features I consider negative and that are too emphasized (IMHO) in the film.

And I don't agree with VendingMachine that Gosha treated women as whores. I'd say he was authoritative and domineering but "treating women as whores" means something different IMO.

Btw, VendingMachine, do you really think that he is wino? Or you chose this word only to make it sound more expressive and emotional? But if you do think that he is a wino, it would be really interesting for me to know the reasons.