PROFESSION - DIRECTOR

There is much talk these days that the Azerbaijani cinema is not at its best today. As evidence they cite the example of Azerbaijani producers shooting fewer and fewer films. However, we will not speculate on this topic, considering that it is for relevant experts to discuss. We will just state, contrary to the general opinion, that the Azerbaijani cinema exists if there young specialists who make new films. Quite recently the Public Television premiered the film of young Azerbaijani film director Arzu Ursan, "Taqib" ("Chase"). The film  was made on the basis of popular writer Anar's script. As the "conductor" of the new Azerbaijani reality director Ursan has achieved a lot of success in her profession.              

She was born in Sumqayit and after graduating from high school she studied directing the drama at the Moscow State Institute of Culture. After studying at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, she trained at the Moscow State Variety Theater. Arzu started as an assistant director working with actors, worked as director of National Centre of Cinematography and the State Broadcasting Company of Azerbaijan (AzTV) editorial director in international programs. At that time, Arzu produced a series of TV movies about China, and was the author and host of the "Breaking the Silence" radio programme's Russian edition. In 2003, she had master classes with director Krzysztof Zanussi (Poland) and screenwriter Dagmar Benke (Germany) in the framework of the AVANTI programme (Switzerland).

She is currently a script writer, a director at the production centre AzBuki (Moscow). While commissioned by RTR she became the writer and director of the documentary film "Temple for Onegin. After the glory." The film was broadcast on the channel "Russia 1" in 2010. The documentary was devoted to the extraordinary fate of the famous songwriter in the 1960-80s in the Soviet Union - Onegin Hacikazimov. In 2011, the film "Temple for Onegin. After the Glory" won the prize for Best TV Film at the VI International Film Festival "Vstrecha" in the city of Obninsk. And in 2012, at the IV International Sport Film Festival among 150 films USA, UK, France, Germany, Portugal, Ukraine, Iran, Uzbekistan and other countries represented in the competition a documentary of Arzu Ursan was awarded the first place in the category "Best Documentary". This film is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of football in Azerbaijan. It also received "a garland of Honor" at the Sport Movies & TV - Milano International Ficts Festival in Milan and was the winner in the category "Best Documentary of the sports club" at the International Festival of Sports Films in Istanbul

Today we are talking with Arzu Ursan about the working process of filming the "Chase", the protagonist and the twists of the plot. 

- How did you have the idea of making a film based on Anar's script?

- In 2004 Anar Rasulovich let me read his story "Red limousine" and suggested that a film be made on its basis. Together we drafted a scenario. In this period I moved to Moscow and directed several other projects. In the beginning of 2012 Anar Rasulovich called me and said that the Public TV of Azerbaijan is interested in our scenario and would like to make a film. I was very happy with the news. The only thing I requested from the management of the TV station was the opportunity to work with my crew from Moscow. They include cameraman Yuriy Yermolin and sound engineer Mikhail Buyanov - Russia's leading filmmakers.

The selection of actors for the film took place in the spring 2012. Admittedly, it was very difficult to choose from the number of people who attended the casting. I would like to note that there are truly talented actors in Azerbaijan and they have to be valued! So, I decided to first pick an actor for the main role and then "fit" others around him. Sergey Chonishvili, Russian actor from the Lenkom theatre was very eager to play the role of Sattar, the protagonist. We already discussed with him his participation in the film. However, regrettably the film's budget could not afford paying high honorariums. And we continued the search for the protagonist... I knew singer Sarxan Sarhanov long ago and I decided to gamble as I remembered how emotionally he expressed himself in songs and that he already had experience in cinema. I betted on my knows as a director and on his talent.

- But Sarxan Sarhanov is not a professional actor. He was filmed only once. Were you not afraid to give him the main role?

- Sarxan Sarhanov is a gifted person. He has a very incisive and poignant way of expressing himself in songs. Considering that we both live in Moscow we have many times talked about life with him... It seemed to me that the state of the hero of my film and of Sarhan were similar. And I needed a person able to show their feelings without words, with just their look alone. When I shared my thoughts with Ismayil Omarov, the head of the Public TV, he supported me. He too was interested to see the well-known singer in a new role. I called Sarxan in Moscow and immediately congratulated him on his return to the cinema. He just asked me: "When do I need to pack and fly to Baku?".

- Tell us about other actors who co-starred in the film.

- We found other actors in various theatres in Baku. I found for myself a vast number of very talented actors, prominent actors of Azerbaijan: Mehriban Zaki and Naina Ibrahimova; Nigar Gulahmadova and Bahram Bagirzada. In other words, a very professional crew of actors gathered. Composer Rauf Aliyev wrote the music for the film and Sahin Hasanov was in charge of art direction. 

- Tell us about the film, what is it about?

- About revaluing life values, about spirituality. It is interesting that everybody who read the script remarked that the story echoed with their life. In their time, each of us went through similar problems, ups and downs. We show the changes in the main hero against the background of modern Azerbaijan. Sattar is a successful journalists who suddenly refuses to live according to the old ways of life. He lives in an old architectural house where the walls still remember the voices of his ancestors. One day a man comes to him and says that he intends to buy the house… Speaking symbolically, the house is our life, our past and present. A repair or reconstruction, or even a small change in its plan destroys not only the present, but also the future of the house. This film is about the need to resist injustice, difficulties and problems, no matter what happens.

In the film the hero is chased by a red car. He dreams about it, he sees it in real life… this is like some matrix that accumulated other residue - urban gloss, glamour, the reflection of expensive windows. This is a symbol of modernity that destroys the past on its path. I will not say how the film ends and let the viewers see it for themselves. 

- One of your most memorable films is "Temple for Onegin. After glory". Tell us about how you shot it.

- I shot when VGTRK commissioned it. The mother of Onegin, Mahriban-xanim knew Russian literature very well and gave her son the name of her favourite hero since her son was born in 1937, when the 100th anniversary of the death of Aleksandr Pushkin was marked. Onegin Hacikazimov is the author of many songs that became famous in the country: "Aleshkina lyubov", "Pozvoni", "Vostochnaya pesnya". The peak of his popularity was in the 1960-1980s. And suddenly, to the amazement of the vast crowd of fans, Onegin leaves the scene in order to drastically change his life. He leaves Moscow, is baptized in the Orthodox Church and becomes monk Silvanus in the blessed Optina. I had to dig in the archives to restore the details of his life. However, when I reached the monastery where he lived it turned out that he is no longer alive. He died from cancer. It was such a pity I never managed to meet him. But the story of his life was very touching and poignant.

 - What do you plan? You must be thinking of the next film?

- I would like to shoot a film about a pomegranate to tell through symbols about the history, traditions and customs of my country. I also plan to shoot a documentary dedicated to the ancient family of popular artist Eldar Mansurov. He was born in the family of well-known tar player Bahram Mansurov. The family of Mansurov are the keepers of rich musical traditions and the house of Masadi Suleyman bey Masadi Malik-Mammad bek oglu (grandfather of Eldar Mansurov) was called the "mugham evi" as famous mugham performers gathered there. Each of Mansurov's ancestors left a unique trace in Azerbaijan's history and culture. This is what my next film will be about.