16:51, 29 October 2019

Director of film about Chechen choreographer refuses to show it in Russia

A still from the film "Daimokhk". Cerutti Film (2019)

The film "Daimokhk" about Chechen choreographer Ramzan Akhmadov will not be shown during the screenings of the Artdocfest festival in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, since "that will be safer for its heroes," film director Masha Novikova says.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported Masha Novikova said that in Chechnya, the film crew faced a people's unwillingness to talk about what was happening in the republic out of fear of the authorities.

The film "Daimokhk" presents a story of dancer and choreographer Ramzan Akhmadov, "whose dance collective took shelter in Chechnya." "Due to that fact, the dying of the folk dance tradition is delayed for some time. However, the price to be paid in order to save the traditions of the people is high: Ramzan collaborates with the authorities and sacrifices the things that are most precious for him," states the description of the film "Daimokhk" posted on the website of the Artdocfest festival.

In 1999, Ramzan Akhmadov created the "Daimokhk" children's song and dance collective. During the hostilities in Chechnya, the collective toured extensively throughout Europe.

In her interview to the "Meduza", Masha Novikova said that self-censorship of heroes became the main limitation during the filming. "All our interviews began and ended with laudatory words addressed to the leader of Chechnya ... Therefore, there is a lot of silence in the film," said Masha Novikova as quoted by the "Meduza".

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 29, 2019 at 03:05 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Rustam Djalilov

Source: CK correspondent