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«The lamentations of the great steppe» is a kazakh tragedy

21.01.2021, 11:00 845

«The Lamentations of the Great Steppe». What a difficult sentence to read and write!? After all, this is our history! The film was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for the nomination “The Best Film in a Foreign Language». It was also presented for the first time at the opening ceremony of the Asian Film Festival. «Our goal is not to get a nomination,» said the film’s general producer Yernar Malikov. During the interview, we learned a lot about the main purpose of the film crew and a number of details about the film «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe». Kazakhstanis can watch the film online for a fee on cinexus.kz.

Yernar  MALIKOV,

General producer of the film «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe»:

I HAD TO SELL MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO SHOOT THE FILM

– Mr. Yernar, let’s start our conversation with the idea of making the film «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe» …

– In general, there were a lot of directors and producers who wanted to film the turbulent times of our ancestors. However, there are still those who look to Moscow, some of whom are faced with the problem  of  “I will be in trouble if I start investigating and spread about it.” The director of the film Marina Kunarova and I studied it for about two years. We gathered materials not only in Kazakhstan, but also from other countries like Ukraine, Russia, France, America, etc. I started work diligently by saying that “We are going to be all over by being scared constantly.” This is our history. This is a tragedy of the Kazakh people! In fact, it is a tragedy not only for the Kazakhs, but for all the nations of the Soviet Union! According to our data, about 47 million people  suffered  from  artificial  famine, of which  40  million  died  of  starvation.

Prior to the shooting, my businessman acquaintances had  said: «Yereke, start filming, we will support you.» Honestly, when we started the film, they ran away because of fear. At the end, unexpectedly, I was left alone. So I had to sell my personal belongings. There was a need to borrow money. During a live press conference, we told the media that we would start filming in February. A word spoken is past recalling, so there was no way back.

«I CALL IT THE NATION’S FILM»

– Where was the film shot?

– During the filming we lived in Suyksai, Kapal, Arasan, Balasaz and 11th village of Aksu district, Almaty region for four months from December to March. At the beginning, the locals did not believe us. Less than ten days after the start of filming, they began to feel the movie and tell their stories about the years of famine (from their memory with the examples as “my grandfather said …”, «I heard from my grandmother…” , etc.). The people of these five villages helped us a lot. As an example, one of them provided us with a yurt, and the other brought a horse-drawn carriage … There were 88 people in the film crew. We agreed on 500 tenge per day for stay, and after some time they told us to stay for free. The people believed in us and gave us strength.

In general, it took about 5 years to make the film.

– How did the authorities react to the film?

– One  and a half months ago I was invited to Nur-Sultan in connection with the film «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe». There were the people  of  Yeraly Tugzhanov, the Deputy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Then there were Secretary of State Krymbek Kusherbayev, Minister of Culture and Sports Aktoty Raimkulova, Minister of Information and Social Development Aida Balayeva, First Deputy Head of  the Presiden­tial Administration Dauren Abayev. After watching the movie, Krymbek Yeleuovich hugged me and shook my hand: “Yernar, when we were little we heard about the famine from our grandparents. Then we read from books, newspapers and the Internet.   I am pleased with your civic position. I have never seen such a film.»In front of my eyes, the Minister gave instructions to Aktoty Raimkulova:»The guys made the film for their own money. People also have helped. I call it “the Nation’s Film». After all, the share to help of the population is large. Therefore, in two weeks, provide funding and support for the film.» But then I noticed that the Ministry of Culture and Sportshad changed their mind.

«THEN DON’T YOUR MINISTERS LISTEN TO ANYONE?»

– How  is that? Did they openly say that they will not  support  at  all?

– As far as I know, the members of the Oscars Committee  of  Kazakhstan selects three or four films. Among them are «Tomiris», “A black, black man», and a couple of other films along with our film. I  heard about it afterwards. When «Tomiris» did not pass, she put both her feet forward and did not move. In his article, President Kassym-Jomart Kemelovich said that we need to make more historical films. Secretary of State Krymbek Yeleuovich was in charge of it. I resent a ministry that neither fears God, nor honor the spirits of our ancestors. This is not just a simple grudge. Publicists and PR managers we hired say: «It’s a paradox! So your ministers don’t listen to anyone? This is the history and tragedy of the Kazakh people!”. Moreover, the Oscars is not about choosing a film based on a certain person. He was surprised that the authorities were indifferent, saying that at the endit would be selected and looked at as a «Kazakhstani film.»

I will repeat once again that the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not provide any assistance. As far as I know, 30 million tenge has been allocated for the film “A black, black man». Nowadays, our film is everywhere. It is in Europe, America and other countries. It’s too late now, nothing can stop us, even if they shoot me.

WE DIDN’T MAKE THIS MOVIE TO MAKE MONEY

–  The purpose of making the film is well-known. Did you reach that goal  today?

– «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe» should open the eyes of every Kazakh. I didn’t make this film to make money or to be nominated. But the film has to be nominated, and then the whole world will see it. Then they will get acquainted with the policy of the Soviet government towards the Kazakhs and other nations.

Special people also have visited me. They ask: “Aren’t you afraid?”. I replied: “Even if I’m shot for this movie, I’m ready! I am no match for the millions of my ancestors, who were innocent victims of this cruelty; and the activists of Alash, who were ready to die for our country, our land, our language, our religion and our mentality.”

The nations around the world do not know much about this artificial famine. When I talk to foreigners, they only mention about Ukraine, and they ask if it happened in Kazakhstan too. In fact, the worst-case scenario of the famine was in Kazakhstan. The task was to leave only 20-30% of the population. Stalin had only one strategy. It is the construction of factories and to get armaments. When there were no money, how could he get it? That’s why he swept everything from the Kazakhs.

Before the famine, in Kazakhstan there were more than 40 million cattle, 120 million sheep, more than 20 million horses, more than 171 thousand camels. Then Goloshchekin said: «There are no poor people here, they are all rich. Even the poorest had 20-30 sheep, 1-2 cows and bulls for migration.” So they killed us mercilessly.

WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO SHOW THE FILM FOR FREE!

– It should be noted that on this day the film «The Lamentations of the Great Steppe» can be watched online for a fee on cinexus.kz.

– The movie could be made for free. But I have no right to it. After all, on demand of the Golden Globes and the Oscars, the film must be commercial. That’s the only reason I have done it that way. As soon as this is over, I will make it available for every Kazakh to watch it. I was asked by many producers: «Yereke, you have been investing and borrowing  so much money for five years, can you reimburse it?». I said, «I’ve recouped it a long time ago.» Then they asked I had sold it already. My answer was: “My dear fellows, it’s not about money, I didn’t make this movie for money or recognition.»

– Probably, it is necessary to intensify the work on translating interviews, information, news about the film into other languages …

– As you have mentioned, translating into another language would be very good news for us. Because it is better  to publish the information about the film in foreign publications with a larger audience.

– Thank you very much! I wish you creative successes!

Interviewed  by  Ryskeldi  ZHAKHMAN

Translated  by  Nurshat  ABU

An excerpt from the film

«Dad, I will never eat you!»

       The village turned into a cemetery due to famine. When the berkutchi (a hunter with eagles) and his child entered one of the abandoned houses at night, the corpses of a man and a woman mangled by a dog and a bird were there. A silhouette could be seen behind the horizontal curtain. In the meantime, the girl, who went insane because of hunger, began to tear the bones of her parents. A poor girl with blood in her eyes attacked the hunter’s son.The father kicked her, and they went outside.

       – Dad, did you see her eyes, her eyes?! She … ate … Dad, I will never eat you!

                – It is an eye of hunger, my son!


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