Directed by Akhtem Seitablaiev Cinematography Volodymyr Ivanov | Written by Mykola Rybalka | |
Produced by Lenur Isliamov
Ivanna Diadiura Starring Akhtem Seitablaiev
Oleksiy Horbunov Music by Dzhemil Karikov
Serhiy Kutsenko | ||
Haytarma is a 2013 Crimean Tatar-language film. It portrays Crimean Tatar test pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union Amet-khan Sultan against the background of the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars. The title of the film means "Return".
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Production and release
Production of the film began in October 2012 in Crimea. The initial budget for the film was US$2.5 million. The funds were provided by Lenur İslâm, owner of Ukrainian television station ATR Channel. Much expenditure was devoted to scenic design and costume design. A preview of the film was released on March 2013. The premiere was scheduled for 18 May 2013, the 69th anniversary of the deportations; Sultan's granddaughter, Soviet Air Force pilots, and ambassadors of foreign countries were invited to attend.
Reactions
The Kyiv Post gave a positive review, describing Haytarma as a "must-see for history enthusiasts". In Simferopol, the Kosmos Cinema estimates that six thousand people saw the film in the first week, and one thousand per day by 4 June; the cinema had begun with just two screenings per day, but added two additional ones in response to the unexpected popularity. It was screened at the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in October 2013. It was one of three films which made the Ukraine Oscar selection committee's shortlist to be submitted as a nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards.
Russian Consul in Simferopol Vladimir Andreyev provoked public controversy for his comments that the film "distorts the truth" with its failure to mention alleged collaborationism by Crimean Tatars during Nazi Germany's occupation of Ukraine. Members of the public took offence, and on 23 May 2013 about 300 people held a protest outside the consulate demanding that Andreyev be declared persona non grata, while the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Andreyev's remarks as "inappropriate". Andreyev initially stood by his remarks and refused to retract them, but the following day the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described Andreyev's words as inappropriate and incorrect.