JAY JOSHI
The directors of international films from Kazakhstan and Romania shared information on Saturday about film financing and key social issues and themes in their respective countries. Director of Kazak film Baluan Sholak, Nurgeldy Sadygulov and director Romanian film Monsters Mareaus Oltaenu addressed a joint press conference on Saturday where they discussed about their films and other issues.
Baluan Sholak was a famed Kazak singer, poet, and composer, and he was also a wrestler. He sang Kazak songs and made a number of sacrifices contributing to Kazak struggle for their identity, informed director Nurgeldy Sadygulov. He further added that many plays are staged about the life of the wrestler who is considered a national hero in Kazakhstan, but the film which is being screened at IFFI is the first film made on the great Kazak icon. The film is financed by the Ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan, informed the director, adding that the government of Kazakhstan mostly finances historical films and biopics.
Mareaus Otaenu, the director of Romanian film Monsters also spoke about his film and the current social issues and themes in Romania. THe film Monsters tells the story of a couple who have lived together for ten years. They have managed to stay together over a long time by keeping secrets in order to protect their relationship. However, the film chronicles a period of 24 hours in which all the secrets are spilled and the relationship nears its end. “The story aims to tackle a number of issues,” informed Otaenu, “The husband is gay, and the wife does not want to have kids. Both these topics are quite sensitive in Romania. The country is a part of the European Union, and the EU is quite flexible about these issues. This is bringing pressure upon the church and political establishment of Romania to change with the times,” he added.
