Ubuikeev Melis Aytkulovich

Ubukeev Melis Aitkulovich

Film director, screenwriter. Born on April 17, 1935, in the city of Frunze to a family of a writer. He completed his secondary education in 1954. After graduating from the history faculty of KGU, he studied at the directing faculty of VGIK from 1959 to 1965 under the guidance of Sergey Apollinarievich Gerasimov. As a second-year student, he directed a documentary film "River of Mountains" (1960) at the "Kyrgyzfilm" studio based on his own script. Constructing it in the form of a "narrative" of the river addressed to a boy, the young director managed to convey his reflections on the past and future of his native land in an original manner, rooted in folklore traditions. In 1964, Ubukeev's diploma film "Difficult Crossing" (released as "White Mountains" in cinemas, based on the story by M. Elebaev "Snowstorm Day" about the return of Kyrgyz refugees from Eastern Turkestan to their homeland in revolutionary Russia) was released. Historically accurate, the film is imbued with the author's sincere sympathy for the tragic fates of ordinary people.

Based on the artistic principles of "Difficult Crossing" (1st prize at the film festival of cinematographers from the Central Asian republics and Kazakhstan in Almaty in 1965), the films "Children of the Mountains - Sons of the Sea" (1965) and "Akin" (1968, diploma for directing at the VIII festival of cinematographers from Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Almaty in 1969) were created.

In "Akin," M. Ubukeev attempted to reveal the psychology of the creativity of Alykul Osmonov, a famous Kyrgyz poet, through the language of cinema.

His principled commitment to poetry and epic storytelling was demonstrated in the original attempt to combine the expressive means of cinema and theater in the television film "Ak-Meyor" (1969, 2nd prize at the All-Union Festival of Television Films in Leningrad in 1969, special prize at the VIII festival of cinematographers from Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Almaty in 1969). M. Ubukeev directly pointed out the connection of the film with folk art. The opening credits state: "Dedicated to the akyns who have brought the tale of Ak-Meyor to our days."

In 1972, M. Ubukeev was invited to the "Kazakhtelefilm" studio. Here he directed a feature-length artistic television film "Evening Outskirts" (about the struggle against the remnants of the past in people's consciousness). This film was recognized at the joint plenary session of creative unions in Almaty as a significant success of Kazakh cinema.

In 1974, at the "Kyrgyztelefilm" studio, the director created a short film "Once Upon a Time" ("Akzholtoy") based on a script by K. Omurkulov. Based on a somewhat strange, parable-like story, the director uncovered the deep antagonism between two worldviews: the pragmatic and acquisitive versus the humane and generous.

The ability to find an accurate and concise detail to characterize a hero ensured the success of M. Ubukeev's next work — the documentary television film "People's Artist" (1977). This film highlights the origins of the great talent of the folk artist Gapar Aitieva.

In 1977-1978, M. Ubukeev prepared seven issues of the satirical film magazine "Korogoch" (15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, and a special issue "Empty Flight"), criticizing manifestations of mismanagement, criminal negligence of nature's gifts, and pointing out the severe consequences of alcoholism. With the arrival of M. Ubukeev, the critical "vision" of the magazine "Korogoch" sharpened, and socially significant, interesting documentary and fictional plots with psychologically accurate and expressive performances by actors emerged.

The diversity of the director's creative pursuits is also evidenced by his fresh, original staging of the play "Ascent to Fujiyama" by Ch. Aitmatov and K. Mukhametjanov at the Kyrgyz State Academic Drama Theater in 1976. M. Ubukeev demonstrated a good understanding of the specifics of the theatrical stage and the ability to boldly and artistically analyze complex moral issues.

Other films: "Sayakbay" (1966), "Traffic Light" (1968).

Awards — Honorary Certificate of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR (1969). Certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kazakh SSR "For work with the personnel of the internal affairs troops of the Kazakh SSR" (1972). Honorary Certificate from the State Committee for Television and Radio of the Kazakh SSR "For successful creative and production activities" (1973).

Member of the USSR Union of Cinematographers since 1965.

WORKS ON THE DIRECTOR'S CREATIVITY

Aitmatov Ch. The Art that Serves Millions of People (in Kyrgyz). — "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," September 19, 1965.
Artyukhov O. Problems of Kyrgyz Cinema (in Kyrgyz). — "Ala-Too," 1969, No. 8, p. 144.
Asanbekov S. The Drama of the Spiritual World (in Kyrgyz). — "Kyrgyzstan Madaniyaty," September 30, 1976.
Dzhigitov S. "Difficult Crossing" (in Kyrgyz). — "Soshchik Kyrgyzstan," October 21, 1965.
Dzhumagaziev K. "Difficult Crossing" (in Kyrgyz). — "Emgek Tusu," July 16, 1965.
Ibraimov K., Abdrakunov T. "Difficult Crossing" (in Kyrgyz). — "Kyrgyzstan Aiyaldary," No. 3, 1965, p. 24.
Oruntaev Zh. "Difficult Crossing" (in Kyrgyz). — "Mugalimder Gazetasy," March 27, 1965.
Esengeldiev T. "Ak-Meyor" on Screen (in Kyrgyz). — "Leninchil Zhas," April 10, 1969.
Aitmatov Ch. A Word About Our Cinema. — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," August 27, 1965.
Aitmatov Ch. To Be on the Front Line. — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," September 19, 1965.
Artyukhov O. "Difficult Crossing." — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," December 20, 1964.
Artyukhov O. On Modernity and Contemporaries. — "Soviet Culture," October 27, 1966.
Artyukhov O. "Ak-Meyor." — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," April 26, 1969.
Artyukhov O. Achievements and Losses. — "Literary Kyrgyzstan," No. 4, 1969, pp. 109-110.
Asanbekov S. "People's Artist." — "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," October 9, 1977.
Afidzhanova G. Success or Failure? — "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," April 26, 1969.
Ashimov K. The Birth of Kyrgyz Cinema. F., "Ilm," 1969, pp. 110-116.
Ashimov K. The Screen of Kyrgyzstan Tells. M., Bureau for the Propagation of Soviet Cinematic Art, 1976, pp. 39-40.
Ashimov K. Ascent. — "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," August 26, 1979.
Dobrodeev B. Speaking Frankly. — "New Film," No. 19, 1972, p. 7.
For Cinema of Great Thoughts. — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," December 2, 1960.
Ilyin R. The Push of "Televisionity." — "Soviet Radio and Television," No. 8, 1969, p. 8.
Imankulov Sh. Our Muratbek. F., "Kyrgyzstan," 1970, pp. 103-105 and 109-112.
History of Kyrgyz Art. F., "Ilm," 1971, pp. 384-386.
Kokoreva I. "What Will You Tell Us?" — "Soviet Culture," October 30, 1965.
Kosmatoye L. Cinematographer and Television Film. — "Soviet Radio and Television," No. 8, 1969, p. 9.
Morgachev I. National and Universal. — "Komsomolets Kyrgyzii," April 25, 1965.
Lyndina E. In Anticipation of the Star Hour. — "Soviet Screen," No. 13, 1974, p. 6.
Omurkulov K. Formation. — "Literary Kyrgyzstan," No. 4, 1975, p. 98.
Pinchukov K. The Kyrgyz Miracle. — "Lenin's Shift," September 26, 1965.
Savvin I. "Difficult Crossing." — "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda," September 26, 1965.
Usenbaev K. "The Uprising of 1916 in Kyrgyzstan," F., "Ilm," 1967, p. 304.
Films of the Indifferent (notes on a trip to the "Kyrgyzfilm" studio: Freilikh S., Pogozheva L., Koroleva M., Grigoryev R., Varshavskiy Y.). — "Art of Cinema," No. 11, 1966, pp. 19, 21, 23, 25.
Shcherbina T. Meeting with Talents. — "Soviet Kyrgyzstan," March 17, 1965.
Thoughts Born from the Festival (in Kazakh). — "Kazakh Adabieti," October 1, 1965.
Sarin B. "Difficult Crossing" (in Kazakh). — "Zhetisu," September 24, 1965.
Satibaldin K. Creative Success (in Kazakh). — "Kazakh Adabieti," October 1, 1965.

FOREIGN CINEMA CRITICISM

Ionchev A., Grigorov R. United — Invincible (in Bulgarian). — "Filmovini Novini," No. 11, 1966.