Posted on by Ilyas

CT12 – Film in the Caucasus

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“Censorship in the West is like everywhere else, it forces my colleagues to follow certain rules—the first rule being the box office.”
—Otar Iosseliani

The first in a mini-series on “Arts in the North Caucasus,” today we talk about film. “Talk about film?” It’s true,  This is one episode especially for the show notes. Film has emerged in the last century as one of the most moving art forms known to humankind. In the North Caucasus like in many places film has been harnessed to express  and process the pain, hopes, struggles, and joys of its peoples. Today we highlight films across the spectrum—old and new, comic and documentary—all of which will give you a colorful insight into a different world. So pop some popcorn and enjoy!

Links for Episode 12

“Closeness” by Kantemir Balagov, a Kabardin from Nalchik which won some the Cannes Film Festival awards
“Tangerines” – Modern war-time and inter-ethnic conflict (no link 🙁
“Svani” – Caucasus traditions conflicting w/ Russian traditions (English subtitles)
“Father of a Soldier” – Soviet war film (English subtitles)
“Kidnapping, Caucasus Style” – Classic Soviet comedy (English subtitles)
“Prisoner of the Mountains” – A serious, modern re-make of the classic North Caucasus movie based on Leo Tolstoy’s book, Prisoner of the Mountains
Sergei Paradjanov – Armenian director (1924-1990), maker of 18 films, in Armenian, Georgian, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Otar Iosseliani – Georgian director (b. 1934), maker of 22 films and winner of the Cannes Film Festival and other international film festival awards.

Timestamps

16:39 – Andrew’s film recommendations
25:25 – Amazing film site: MUBI
27:14 – News Minute!! The strongest ____________ in the world. . .

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