Cinema
The Contest
Sostyazanie
Bulat Mansurov · 1963
Synopsis
Şükür, a renowned Turkmen musician, learns that his brother is held captive by a khan of Persia. Rather than follow the horsemen who want to free him by force of arms, he sets out alone with his dutar. The khan challenges him to face the musician of his court in a musical contest, and the captive's freedom depends on the outcome.
Context
In Turkmen the film bears the name of the musician, Şükür bagşy, and was drawn from the story by Nurmyrat Saryhanow. It was the diploma film of the director and of his cinematographer, Hojaguly Narlyýew, who was to direct Nevestka nine years later. Aman Handurdyýew plays the lead role. According to Radio Azatlyk, the shooting dates from 1962 and the release from 1963; after this film, the same source says, Turkmen cinema was talked about all over the world.
Who it is for
In black and white. It is better to know that the bagşy is at once musician, singer and storyteller: the confrontation is a duel of art, not of strength.
Prizes and reception
Presented by Northwestern University as its director's masterpiece, in a series devoted to Soviet and post-Soviet Central Asia.
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