Chechen theatre official claims apology from Sokurov

Khava Akhmadova, the head of the Chechen State Drama Theatre, has treated the statement of film director Alexander Sokurov about the cultural interests of residents of Northern Caucasus as a reason for his apology.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the films created by graduates of the studio of the famous film director Alexander Sokurov have repeatedly won prizes at international film festivals. The film by his pupil, Malika Musaeva "The Cage Looks for a Bird" was put on the programme of the Berlin Film Festival.

Khava Akhmadova has criticized Sokurov for his statement about the absence of interest in cinema in Northern Caucasus. According to his version, the works of young North-Caucasian filmmakers "are facing blocking and contemptuous attitude of film distributors" in the region. He also treats the religious and political Islamization as the "inevitable future" for Northern Caucasus.

In her response, Akhmadova has stated that Sokurov had been to Northern Caucasus "at most a couple of times," and could not judge about the cultural life of the region.

In the opinion of Timur Agirov, a photographer and travel blogger, the restrained interest in the latest films of Sokurov's pupils in the Caucasus is caused by the film topics. In his Facebook page, he expressed doubt that "the topic of the gap between traditions and modernity and women's self-determination" is relevant for the broad masses in Northern Caucasus.