The film "Do Not Be Afraid, I Am With You In 1919" by the famous film director, People's Artist of Azerbaijan and Honoured Artist of Russia Yuly Gusman has recently premiered in Moscow in the 'Rossiya' concert hall. The movie, produced by Azerbaijanfilm and Russian film company "VayT Media", is a sequel to the legendary 1981 film "Do Not Be Afraid, I'm With You" with Lev Durov, Polad Bulbuloglu and Mukhtarbek Kantemirov. The events of the new film take place during a short but brilliant period of the first democratic revolution in the East, in Azerbaijan.
Teymur (portrayed by Bulbulogly) has become a member of the independent Azerbaijani parliament, Rustam (Mukhtarbek Kantemirov) serves in the Red Army, and San Sanych (Lev Durov) lives in a house on the beach and teaches children karate. The beloved characters join forces in order to free the kidnapped daughter of Taimur Shirin.
"A premiere is always a joyous occasion. Of course, the assessment will be given by the audience, but the creators always hope for success, especially since the previous film was very successful, it has even become a cult film. Of course, this film is a different story, even though many of the performers are the same, but the story is quite different. It's great that we managed to make this film while we are alive. So the same team created the movie. Let's hope that the audience will like it," says actor, composer and Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbulogly.
"We were waiting for this day and we were trying to bring it as close as possible. And maybe we have not managed to do it very quickly, but it has come at last. Today there are a lot of friends. Thanks again for being here with us today. The picture, after all, was intended to be cheerful, kind and nice. I want you to enjoy this fun, kind and nice movie. We filled it with love and friendship," said the film's director Yuly Gusman.
In an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza, Gusman said that it was not easy to produce the movie. "It was very big and very hard work. I love the people I was shooting, and Azerbaijan, where we filmed it. I wish that our love, kindness, and desire to live together in peace will influence the people in the Caucasus, Russia and Ukraine," he said.
"The cinema of Gusman is a cinema of personalities: Mukhtarbek Kantemirov, Lev Durov and the fact that, even with all his experiments in his spare time, poetry had a chance to take part in such a funny movie - this is also nice. Therefore, it is a great victory that at such a time the film was released with its fabulous aesthetics, so it is a celebration of friendship between Moscow and Baku, a celebration of such special cinema," says poet Vladimir Vishnevsky.
