Films with: Halonen, Arto

Shadow of the holy book

In oil-rich Turkmenistan, the Ruhnama, written by and central to the dictatorship of President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov, has been integrated into the educational system and memorization of it is even required to obtain a driver's license. The filmmakers expose the complicity of several of the world's most powerful multinational corporations in supporting Niyazov's repressive regime by translating and thereby legitimizing the Ruhnama - support that continues even after his death.

DVD 6646

Stars' caravan

Aging projectionist Zarylbeck has devoted years of his life to Kyrgyzstan's nomadic cinema, leading caravans of mules and horses carrying projectors, screens and film canisters to the wandering tribes. Now, as the town Naryn is preparing for the 1000th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's national hero Manas, Zarylbeck and his young apprentice Murat face a society in transition. With dwindling state funds to bolster their film tours, Soviet propaganda films giving way to Hollywood B films, and communist ideologies yielding to revived Islamic beliefs, the projectionists face an uncertain future. Intercut with colourful scenes from the epic adventures of Manas, this impressionistic, creative documentary creates a vivid and lyrical picture of a land and a people coping with massive political, social and economic upheaval.

DVD 2339