The symbol of Kyrgyz cinema

In the history of the cinema of the countries of Central Asia, there are influential and famous figures and personalities whose names and activities are closely related to the growth, progress and promotion of the cinema of this region, and this field cannot be imagined without them. Bolotbek Shamshiyev is one of such figures whose name and worthy activities are deeply connected with the cinema of Kyrgyzstan. During his more than 40-year cinematic career, he created a masterpiece that was admired and praised not only by his compatriots in Kyrgyzstan, but also in the world arena in the past and present.

This outstanding director was born in 1941 in the city of Frunze (now Bishkek) in the family of the Kyrgyz people's poet Talin Shamshiyev. After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of Cinematography in 1964, in 1966 he made his first scientific documentary film, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis, called "Manaschi" (Singer and Connoisseur of "Manas", the Kyrgyz national epic), under the direction of his professor Alexander Zagoridi, a well-known Russian filmmaker. The film won the top prize at the International Film Festival in Aberkhazin, Germany. The film also received a special award at the Central Asian and Kazakhstan Film Festival.

During his student days, Shamshiev showed that he was a talented artist in the field of cinema by playing the role of Kamal in the film "Zenai" (Heat), directed by Russian director Latris Shipytko, and the film was praised by the film industry.

In the following years, Bоlоtbek Shamshiev made the films "Shepherd" (1966), "Shooter in the Kerch Gorge" (1970), "Red Poppy of Issyk-Kul" (1972), "White Ship" (1977, together with Chingiz Aitmatov, for which the film brought the director the USSR State Prize), "The Winds of the Place" (1980), "The Wolf's Pit" (1984), "The Dawn of Fujiyama" (1988), which brought him great fame and established him as an outstanding director in the former Soviet Union and beyond.

Most of his films were based on the works of the famous Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Shamshiev received the country's famous awards for these films, including the Order of Manas, the Order of Honor, the Order of Friendship, etc.

The director has done a valuable service in introducing Manas, the Kyrgyz national epic, which consists of 1.5 million verses and is considered the largest epic in the world. He himself said in one of his interviews :  I realized in my dear life that all my artistic activity has been influenced by Manas.

I first became acquainted with Manas through pictures in my childhood. At that time, my father had brought me a luxurious book from Moscow, dedicated to Manas and its heroes. I spent hours looking at the fascinating pictures in this book. This was in 1946-1947, when I did not know how to read or write. But the Kyrgyz faces and features of this book evoked in me the spirit of the post-World War II era, the spirit of the people who were trying to repair the damage caused by the war.

In the following years, when young Kyrgyz directors achieved high positions and prestigious awards at domestic and foreign film festivals, film critics abroad realized that the main reason for all this success of the young generation of Kyrgyz filmmakers lies in the light of the lofty ideals of Manas, and this epic gave strength and inspiration to our generation. Even the movement of Kyrgyz filmmakers in the 1960s was interpreted as the "miracle of Kyrgyz cinema."

Bоlоtbek Shamshiyev always thought about raising the status of Kyrgyz cinema.

This famous artist passed away in 2019.

Shahmansоur Shahmirza

Expert at the ECO Cultural Institute