Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Azerbaijan: Culture shake

Oppositional Azeri newspaper Baki Kheber (The Baku News) reports that famous Azeri film director Ayaz Salayev's new controversial film titled Ehram TV (Pyramid TV) has given the Ministry of Culture and Tourism a real headache.

The Ministry, which sponsors the film that was almost completed, has ordered most of it to be re-shot while altering huge parts of the scenario. Also, all members of the Expert Committee which oversees the production of state-sponsored films are fired, and three officials have received strong official reprimands, including the director of "Azerbaijanfilm" Company.

What a pity. It sounded as a good film :(

4 comments:

Myrthe said...

What was the movie about (or supposed to be about)? Any idea what exactly the objections were?

LIVLIVS MAXIMVS said...

It is about a telejournalist who is dying and thus recalling all his life in his last day. The idea was conceived the day when government shut down a private television company, where the director worked then :)

Myrthe said...

Ahaaa, now things are starting to make a bit more sense. :-)

LIVLIVS MAXIMVS said...

But what doesn't make sense is how they have decided to sponsor this film :)