The director Ainur Askarov, the actor Alexander Novikov, and the producer Timerbulat Karimov presented the film "Clemency" taking part in the Russian Premieres Competition of the 45th Moscow International Film Festival. This war drama is based on the eponymic story by the famous Bashkir poet, writer and playwright Mustai Karim. This is Ainur Askarov's second film adaptation of Bashkir classics, his previous film being "Otryad Taganok" (Taganok Unit).
"As my teacher used to say, you have to feel out the material for a film when choosing it. When I am reading Mustai Karim, I am getting goosebumps running up and down my back, tears are welling up in my eyes. I grew up with his books, so it's a great honor for me to film the masterpieces of Mustafa Safich", said Ainur Askarov.
Timerbulat Karimov, the producer and grandson of the writer, emphasized that "Clemency" was a very personal work for his grandfather: "He had been working on it for 40 long years after the war. He went to the war in 1941, and met the victory in 1945 in Vienna, and this is what he wrote about himself: I am not a war hero, I am a war labourer. So, this story holds the precious observation of a man who went through the war, kept his creative integrity, and remained a poet. This film is about how to protect yourself, not to compromise your conscience, despite all the atrocities, hardships, and sorrows of war.
"As my teacher used to say, you have to feel out the material for a film when choosing it. When I am reading Mustai Karim, I am getting goosebumps running up and down my back, tears are welling up in my eyes. I grew up with his books, so it's a great honor for me to film the masterpieces of Mustafa Safich", said Ainur Askarov.
Timerbulat Karimov, the producer and grandson of the writer, emphasized that "Clemency" was a very personal work for his grandfather: "He had been working on it for 40 long years after the war. He went to the war in 1941, and met the victory in 1945 in Vienna, and this is what he wrote about himself: I am not a war hero, I am a war labourer. So, this story holds the precious observation of a man who went through the war, kept his creative integrity, and remained a poet. This film is about how to protect yourself, not to compromise your conscience, despite all the atrocities, hardships, and sorrows of war.