15 February 2003
Presentation of the first Chechen feature film was held today at the "Eliso" cinema in Tbilisi. This new film is a debut of a young film producer Murad Mazayev. The presentation was attended not only by the well-known Georgian workers of culture but also by the politicians. Among them is the leader of Georgian Popular Front Nodar Natadze. "Marsho" (Freedom) is the first professional feature film of Chechen production made in the Chechen language.

In his salutatory address, Pro-rector of the Cinema and Theatre University of Tbilisi Gogi Dolidze gave a high appraisal to the work of a young film director. The story narrated in the film is not a fiction. The main hero of the film is a young man whose family lives in the country. He goes to the
front and heroically fights against the Russian occupants. The leading idea of the film is based on the fate of the young hero's fiancee who promises the young man to wait for him, and not to marry anybody. The final of the story also reflects the reality - the rising generation of fighters who are ready to join the struggle for the freedom of the Chechen nation. Unfortunately, young people have no choice, as war takes everything and
it is not up to people to decide who should fight and who should live peacefully. It may seem that the adults easily send their children to a life and death struggle. But it is at least 400 years the Chechen people resist the Russians. That is why, death of relatives, loss of home and property, exile, deportation and warfare against the Russians has become a way of life for the Chechens. The film was shot in the Pankisi Gorge of Georgia, with the participation of the Georgian actors, as well as the Chechen refugees. The local residents actively participated in implementation of this important for the Chechen people project. Although many in Georgia and abroad were skeptic with regard to realization of this project on the
territory that is declared an enclave of international terrorism by the Russian Federation, the work is done on a high professional level, corresponding to the existing international standards of cinematography.

In his interview to the Chechenpress agency correspondent, Murad Mazayev said: "I hope this film will make public of different countries realize
what is happening in Chechnya in reality, and make them do something to stop this war. I also hope it will help me to find people who could
assist me to make more films on he Chechen theme. The film will be sent to several international film festivals of Asia, Europe, America. Our
Japanese colleagues will take a video-copy of the film to Japan. I was also informed that Richard Gere is interested in this film. I am hopeful, I have ideas, and I'll do my best to realize all my creative potential.

A . Melkhiev, Chechenpress

http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/02_2003/15/3.htm

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