Lukashenko Invited Kusturica Shooting "Reputable Movie" in Belarus

10.11.2010 10:15
Архив Редакция

At a meeting with the film director Emir Kusturica on November 9 in Minsk Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko invited him to cooperate with the Belarusian cinematographers. "If you want to shoot anything reputable, though not connected with Belarus, we'll deem it an honor to cooperate with such a man, unable to shoot bad movies," the president said.

The President stressed that Belarus helps and promotes the people, creating high arts. «And you will simply be a hero of our country if you teach something to a dozen of our young film-makers,» Alexander Lukashenko said. According to the President, Belarus lacks «strong, courageous, thoughtful and very professional film-makers.» «And it would be desirable to have such people,» Alexander Lukashenko said, BelTA.

The President said that he had carefully read the biography of Emir Kusturica lately and knew how he had been overcoming the obstacles, encountered in acute periods of history. «I am very glad that you are Yugoslav and will always be. They call me too Soviet, but I never deny it. I am happy to meet such a film-maker of Yugoslavia, as you are,» the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that it is not just a ceremonial, formal event: «It’s more like a meeting with a like-minded person, sharing absolutely the same views on many issues,» the president said.

Kusturica was «Touched a Lot» by Meeting with Lukashenko

«I am very touched by this year’s meeting, said Emir Kusturica, addressing Alexander Lukashenko. — You rule the country the way to pass acquired benefits to the people. You want to preserve the country’s independence. I know that today a very high price should be paid instead.»

The film director also expressed his respect for Belarus as the Slavic state, which still retains its independence. «Belgrade was bombed, not because the Serb people had committed a crime, but because Milosevic didn’t let the corporations come to the country. You are the only country that has achieved success, and your goods are in your hands,» Emir Kusturica said.

Lukashenko Conferred One of the Major Awards of «Listapad» on Kusturica

Alexander Lukashenko presented film director Emir Kusturica with one of the major «Listapad» film festival awards — a special prize of the Head of State «for preservation and development of spiritual traditions in the cinema.»

Alexander Lukashenko regarded this award as a sign of recognition of art director’s outstanding service. The President expressed the hope for Emir Kusturica to visit our country not once, to attend the «Slavonic Bazaar in Vitsebsk», the future film festival «Listapad» and others.

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