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Film Backstage – Pomegranate Orchard 2017
A look at the backstage of the award winning movie Pomegranate Orchard.
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Pomegranate Orchard: Karlovy Vary Review
Dir. Ilgar Najaf. Azerbaijan. 2017. 90 mins An interpretation of Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard, Ilgar Najaf’s Pomegranate Orchard (Nar baği) is a measured familial drama played out against the picturesque backdrop of the titular plantation. As a depiction of a time that has passed amidst the onslaught of modernity, it is often calm and quiet whilst hiding a maelstrom of emotions below the surface. Opening the East of the West Competition at Karlovy Vary 2017 gives the film a comparatively high profile which should net a healthy amount of interest on the festival circuit – especially considering the relative paucity of films originating from Azerbaijan. Its languid pace might not…
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Azerbaijani movie continues global success
By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan’s “Pomegranate Orchard” movie by Ilgar Najaf continues to achieve global success. Ilgar Najaf won the prize of the 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Trend Life reported. The filmmaker gained victory in the “Young Cinema” nomination. Earlier, movie’s scriptwriters Ilgar Najaf, Asif Rustamov and Roelof Jan Minneboo (the Netherlands) received the “Best Screenplay” prize at the 24th “Listopad” International Film Festival in Minsk. “Pomegranate Orchard” features a story about an old man, who lives along with his grandson and daughter-in-law in the decrepit house amidst of the huge pomegranate garden. Sudden comeback of his wayward son has changed a gentle rhythm of their peaceful existence. Forgotten bitter memories have…
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APSA to Honor Late Abbas Kiarostami, Newcomer Ilgar Najaf
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are to honor the late Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami with a special prize. It has commended Kiarostami’s final feature “24 Frames” and will give him posthumous admission to the APSA Academy. “’24 Frames’ is an exquisite reverie on scenes from nature. Through still, but precise frames, and aided by subtle staging or effects, he captures the haunting, haiku-like poetry of nature, its beauty, amorousness and brutality. The play with the double meaning of ‘frame’ reflects his profound mediation on the cinematic form,” said Kim Hong-joon, hair of the APSA international nominations council. Director of “Certified Copy,” “Taste of Cherry,” and “Through the Olive Trees,” Kiarostami died…
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Azeri film bidding for Oscar
A movie by Azerbaijani filmmakers has been presented for an Oscar nomination, the state news agency AzerTac reported. The film Buta has passed the first stage successfully, member of the Oscar National Committee, Ali Isa Jabbarov, said. Jabbarov said that further to the success in international festivals and contests, the film was sent to the U.S. by the committee. Buta has already been included in the initial list of the Oscar. 12 films will proceed to the next stage and 5 films to the final, he said. “Buta” is a story about a lonely seven-year-old boy Buta, who lives in a mountainous village with his grandmother. He is befriended by…
