Our screenings in Khorog went wonderfully.
Two and a half months ago we started seriously exploring the idea of a screening in
First it was a foreign country and we had no idea of venues that would screen the film.
Secondly, there is a language barrier. Most people speak Russian and/or Tajik. We spoke neither. Some cinema-owners spoke broken English, others, nil. We often needed to bring along a friend to translate. Cinema owners, naturally, figure us out to be foreigners immediately and as quickly, the price for hiring out a screen doubles or triples.
When we finally agreed on the venue and the price, you would think, this is it. All set. Create tickets, market the event, invite embassies and other VIPs, and we should be ready to go. And all was ready to go - till a couple of days before the premiere.
Just before the
All the way to the day of the screening we attended meeting after meeting after meeting, pressing our case to make this premiere happen. There was also one really stubborn official at the Ministry who would not watch the film and just kept on coming up with different reasons to stop the screening, none of which really made sense and, cumulatively, definitely did not offer a coherent argument. My translator / friend said it seemed he had a deal with someone to deter the film.
Apparently this issue went to the Deputy Minister on Fri, Aug 29. We are not sure what he said because we just could not wait around any longer. Luckily we had a backup plan and a backup venue, and via a frantic round of calls to embassy personnel, UN’ers, AKDN’ers and others, got many people to come to the new location.
In retrospect, I look back at my original email announcing the screening in Tajikistan. The email blast went out before any of the struggle in
3 comments:
Great quote! And so true!
Many thanks for your support.
Best
S
First of all I'd like to express my gratitude to you and all those who made it passible to screen the film in Tajikistan. However, going through your stories that you have written in your blog about the issues occured in Tajikistan, particularly in Dushanbe, I want to share some of my opinions regarding why those challenges occured. I personally have watched the film and found it very apologetic. The reason i am saying this is that in the film you have created a kind of dichotomy between the Imam of the Time or even the entire Ismaili community and the rest of the Umma. The film indicates as is the Aga Khan and his followers are separated from Islam and as if the true ethical values of Islam are practiced by the Aga Khan and His followers. I think it was the main reason that you faced so many challenges in Dushanbe whee the majority of the population are Sunni Muslims. I am concerned that this can cause many other obstaces in the future for ismailis in Tajikistan. For this reason I think you should expect this kind of reactions from the officials in the government and the rest of the Sunni population of Tajikistan. I understand that your purpose of screening the film was not to promote Ismailism in Tajikistan, but you needed to take to consideration that if people (the Sunnis) were ready to accept what you show in the film.
Hi Temur
The challenges in Tajikistan (and it was only in Dushanbe - 1 screening out of 8) with respect to the government actually did not have anything to do with the content of the film itself. The guy who was blocking it had not and would not watch the film. It seemed he had a back hand deal going on. Plus maybe he wanted to be bribed? Maybe he felt upset we hadnt originally invited him to the premiere?
Where do you find the film apologetic?
The Ismailis have nothing to apologize for - the film merely offers a look at one community's experience, history, philosophy, theology, and vision.
We also do not say the Aga Khan and the Ismailis are separated from Islam - in fact we show them working with many different branches of Islam, in many countries where others Muslim branches are dominant. We also say the Ismailis are one side of Islam as the title reiterates: "AN" Islamic Consicence not "THE" Islamic Conscience.
But there is a dichotomy and it is between most Muslims and fundamentalists. Ismailis see and face this dichotomy too. Example of the moderates v. fundamentalism, the Marriott bombing in Pakistan recently: Muslims killing Muslims.
One needs to be sensitive in showing films with important messages in countries that may not be so open. But one also needs to have hope and courage. Everyone will not always be ready to hear the hard truth but the truth needs to still be said - and this can be done with thoughtfulness. And if a film generates debate we should be happy because this is where change starts: through dialogue.
Best
S
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