Okeev Tolomush Okeevich
Film director. People's Artist of the Kirghiz SSR (1975). Laureate of the State Prize of the Kirghiz SSR named after Toktogul (1972) and the Lenin Komsomol Prize of the republic (1967). Honored Artist of the Kirghiz SSR (1969). Member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1975. Born on September 11, 1935, in the village of Bokonbaev, Tomsk district, Issyk-Kul region, in a peasant family. He studied at a rural school until the 8th grade and then at the A.S. Pushkin Boarding School No. 5 in Frunze. From 1953 to 1958, he was a student at the Electrical Engineering Faculty of the Leningrad Institute of Film Engineers. After graduation, he was assigned as a sound engineer to the Frunze Film Studio. For five years, he worked on the sound design of documentary and popular science films, as well as feature films such as "Heat" (1963) by L. Shepitko, "Street of Cosmonauts" (1963) by M. Roshal, and dubbed more than 20 feature films into Kyrgyz. In 1964, he went back to study at the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors in Moscow (graduated in 1966).
His deep knowledge of film production and creative involvement as a sound engineer in directing helped T. Okeev quickly master all its secrets. In his first independent film "These Are Horses" (1965), the features of his artistic style were fully defined.
The novice director viewed working on a single-part film as a "trial of his pen".
A significant success for G. Okeev was the film "Fierce" (1974)—an adaptation of the short story of the same name by M. Auezov. The action unfolds before the revolution, and it is easy to catch familiar Okeev motifs: nature and man, the struggle for justice, freedom, and high humanity. There are opposites here—Khasen and Akhangul. The former is one of those who brought the light of Lenin's ideas to distant Kazakh and Kyrgyz ails, while the latter is an individualist, a rebel-acquirer who does not shy away from theft. They fight for the soul of the orphan boy Kurmash. Akhangul, preaching the rights of the rich and strong, tries to raise a cruel person in his nephew. The true humanist Khasen, on the contrary, believes that cruelty turns a person into a beast. This is exactly what happens to Kurmash, who becomes embittered and turns away from people.
In 1975, at the Moscow International Film Festival, our country was represented by T. Okeev's new film "Red Apple" based on the short story of the same name by Ch. Aitmatov. Reviewers immediately noted its novelty compared to the director's previous works. The literary basis, leaning towards the genre of lyrical-psychological novella, dictated a style of poetic drama to the film.
The film clearly expressed the idea that one must value love and be able to be considerate of one's own and others' feelings. However, the film was made not only by a lyricist but also by an adherent of epic poetry. In this second quality, T. Okeev turned out to be stronger and more original.
In 1977, the director released a publicistic film analyzing current moral problems of life, "Ulan". It was highly appreciated by both the audience and critics.
Awards include a Certificate of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz SSR (1962), an Honorary Certificate of the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz SSR (1969), a Jubilee Medal "For Valorous Labor. In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of V. I. Lenin" (1970), and a badge "Excellence in Cinematography of the USSR" (1973).
Member of the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR since 1962.
FILMS AWARDED PRIZES IN THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD
"The Sky of Our Childhood" — Diploma of the 1st degree and the main prize "Big Mountain Crystal" at the VI review-competition of filmmakers of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Dushanbe (1967); prize for talented directorial debut at the III All-Union Film Festival in Leningrad (1968); prize from the magazine "Art of Cinema" (1968); honorary diploma of the International Film Festival in Frankfurt am Main (FRG, 1968); "Golden Alpine Branch" at the International Film Festival in Trieste (1969).
"Muras" ("Heritage") — prize and second prize for a feature-length popular science film at the IV All-Union Film Festival in Minsk (1970).
"Bow to the Fire" — State Prize of the Kirghiz SSR named after Toktogul in the field of cinematography (1972); prize from the magazine "Soviet Screen" for "civic spirit and courage of the Soviet person" (1971).
"Fierce" — First Prize at the VII All-Union Film Festival in Baku (1972); honorary diploma of the XXVII International Film Festival in Locarno (Switzerland, 1974).
"Red Apple" — honorary diploma of the XXVIII International Film Festival in Locarno (Switzerland, 1975).
"Ulan" — prize for best direction at the XI All-Union Film Festival in Brevans (1978).
BOOKS, ARTICLES, REVIEWS
"Winged Art" (in Kyrgyz). Frunze, "Kyrgyzstan", 1977.
What the world holds (in Bulgarian).— "Film Art", 1973, No. 1.
His light in our hearts.— "Art of Cinema", 1974, No. 1, pp. 17—22.
Learn from life.— "Art of Cinema", 1975, No. 8, pp. 99—117.
My friend Kadyrzhan.— "Soviet Culture", 1975, January 17.
What does it mean to start? — "Soviet Screen", 1977, No. 3, pp. 15—16.
Ascension.— Collection "Film Panorama. Soviet Cinema Today". Moscow, "Art", 1977, pp. 167—186.
"Ulan" (director presents the film).— "Soviet Screen", 1977, No. 6, pp. 20—21. Landmarks of Tashkent.— "Soviet Screen", 1978, No. 10, p. 1.
And there is no happiness above.— "Soviet Screen", 1978, No. 22, pp. 8—9.
Greetings to the elder of cinema! — "Art of Cinema", 1979, No. 2, p. 116.
WORKS ON THE DIRECTOR'S CREATIVITY
Artyukhov O. Talented Director (in Kyrgyz).— Ala-Tuu, 1973, No. 4, pp. 138—150.
Karymshakov S. "Winged Art" (in Kyrgyz).— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1978, August 5.
Sagymbekov B. About two films by two directors (in Kyrgyz).— "Culture of Kyrgyzstan", 1972, June 20.
Anninsky L. In the deserted steppe.— "Soviet Screen", 1974, No. 10, p. 5.
Artyukhov O. "Bakai's Pasture".— "Komsomolets of Kyrgyzstan", 1966, December 9.
Artyukhov O. There is Kyrgyz cinema.— "Komsomolets of Kyrgyzstan", 1969, April 8.
Artyukhov O. Kyrgyz cinema abroad.— "Literary Kyrgyzstan", 1969, No. 6, pp. 102—105.
Artyukhov O. The sharpness of the artist.— Collection "On the Wings of Cinema". Frunze, "Kyrgyzstan", 1974, pp. 44—65.
Artyukhov O. The poetry of life, the poetry of love.— "Evening Frunze", 1975, October 21.
Afidzhanova G. The artist and the time.— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1969, December 4.
Afidzhanova G. Ulan — a fierce wind,— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1977, October 1.
Ashimov K. The birth of Kyrgyz cinema. Frunze, "Ilim", 1969, pp. 116—119.
Ashimov K. Facing modernity.— "Literary Kyrgyzstan", 1975, No. 6, pp. 96—100.
Ashimov K. The screen of Kyrgyzstan tells, Moscow, Bureau for the Propaganda of Soviet Cinematography, 1976, pp. 19, 50—52.
Babetov A. Squeezed from the very heart.— "Komsomolets of Kyrgyzstan", 1975, October 16.
Babochkina N. Happiness is ahead.— "Literary Russia", 1975, July 18.
Bayaliev M. The origins of unity.— "Soviet Screen", 1977, No. 20, p. 1.
Borisoglebskaya E. "Ulan".— "Soviet Screen", 1977, No. 6, pp. 20—21.
Borov A. "Red Apple".— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1975, May 14.
Vaisfeld I. Our multinational cinema and the world screen. Moscow, "Knowledge", 1975, pp. 36—38, 113—115.
Varzhapetyan V. "Red Apple".— "Soviet Russia", 1975, July 12.
Varshavsky Ya. Love without illusions.— "Soviet Screen", 1972, No. 16, p. 6.
Gromov E. A sharp turn of the spiral.— "Art of Cinema", 1975, No. 11, pp. 55—60.
Gromov E. Spirituality of the screen.— Moscow, "Art", 1976, pp. 182—183.
Gurevich L. "The Sky of Our Childhood".— "Soviet Screen", 1968, No. 5, p. 6.
Gurevich L. "I have always envied the manaschi".— "Soviet Screen", 1970, No. 7, p. 6.
Gurevich L. Formation.— Collection "Film Panorama. Soviet Cinema Today". Moscow, "Art", 1975, pp. 194—221.
Dushkin N. A kind word about Fierce.— "New Film", 1974, No. 2, p. 5.
Eniseyeva L. Between good and evil.— "Kazakhstani Truth", 1973, October 7.
Zorky A. The taste of the red apple.— "Truth", 1975, July 12.
Ivanova T. With modernity and without modernity.— "Soviet Culture", 1967, October 17.
Korkin V. "Red Apple".— "Literary Newspaper", 1975, July 16.
Kurgan O. The road to the dream.— "Trud", 1975, July 11.
Lipkoy A. A hymn to goodness.— "Soviet Culture", 1974, May 21.
Lipkoy A. "Red Apple".— "Soviet Culture", 1975, July 11.
Lotis T. "Red Apple".— "Teacher's Newspaper", 1975, July 12.
Lyndina E. About my land.— "Soviet Screen", 1970, No. 18, p. 4.
"Bow to the Fire".— "Satellite of the Movie Viewer", 1972, No. 12, p. 9.
Polozov L. Gray-fierce.— "Evening Frunze", 1974, January 14.
Solovyeva I. It burns, it burns.— "Art of Cinema", 1973, No. 2, pp. 89—95.
A passionate accusation of alcoholism.— "Propagandist and Agitator of Kyrgyzstan", 1977, No. 23, pp. 30—31.
Sulkin M. The cruel kind truth of Tolomush Okeev ("Fierce"),— Collection "Screen 1973—1974". Moscow, "Art", 1975, pp. 35—38.
Surkov E. People and wolves — "Art of Cinema", 1974, No. 5, pp. 39—50.
Trauberg L. A man from cinema,— "Soviet Culture", 1976, June 29.
Trauberg L. Hailing from the land of mountains (film director Tolomush Okeev).— Collection "Cinema of Soviet Kyrgyzstan". Moscow, "Art", 1979, pp. 206—219.
Films by T. Okeev in Algeria and Tunisia.— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1975, January 16.
Fomin V. Between poetry and prose.— "Film Panorama. Soviet Cinema Today". Moscow, "Art", 1975, pp. 147.
Fomin V. Tolomush Okeev: "Cinema is not a diet cafeteria".— Collection "Intersection of Parallels". Moscow, "Art", 1976, pp. 195—238.
Khlopyankina T. People of a generous heart.— "Truth", 1972, March 24.
Chmonin R. In the name of screen truth.— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1973, March 16.
Sheshchillo D. A journey for happiness.— "Soviet Screen", 1975, No. 23, p. 2.
Shepelenko A. Understanding the truth.— "Soviet Kyrgyzstan", 1977, March 6.
Shtok A. A conversation with the director.— "Lenin's Path", 1972, March 30.
FOREIGN FILM CRITICISM
Bozhinova I. A parable about good and evil (in Bulgarian).— "Film News", 1974, No. 9.
Vishnevsky K. Accelerated change of eras (in Polish).— "Screen", 1976, No. 48.
Gertcheva K. Film festival of Asian and African countries in Tashkent (in Bulgarian).— "Film Art", 1968, No. 12.
Gertcheva K. Young cinema of Kyrgyzstan (in Bulgarian).— "Film Art", 1968, No. 12.
Grokov yak S. Predator (in Polish).— "Screen", 1974, No. 26.
Zagreb B. Close to poetry (in Polish).— "Fili", 1976, November 14.
Zai L. "Fierce" (in Hungarian).— "Filmvilag", 1975, May 15.
Zakhariyev E. On the offensive (in Bulgarian).— "Film Art", 1971, No. 2.
"Red Apple" (in Polish).— "Kobieta i zycie". 1977, No. 17.
Red Apple (in Slovak).— "Film a divadlo". 1977, No. 1.
Morain F. The clear sky of Soviet cinema. "Fierce" and "Romance..." (in French).— "Humanite", 1974, December 7.
Morain F. "Red Apple" by Kyrgyz director Tolomush Okeev (in French).— "Humanite", 1975, July 11.
Naydenova V. Old roots of new cinema (in Bulgarian).— "Film Art", 1976, No. 1.
Pengel Yu. A self-portrait of two continents (in Polish).— "Prawo i zycie", 1969, February 23.
Pech I. "Red Apple" (in German).— "Film und Fernsehen", 1977, No. 3.
Prister E. Time that does not disappear (in German).— "Volksstimme", 1969, March 25.
Rosenberg S. An unyielding smallness (in Slovak).— "Film a divadlo", 1977, No. 1.
With thoughts of Chinggis Khan (in Polish).— "Screen", 1976, No. 19.
Tysovetsky D. Debut and big film (in Slovak).— "Film a divadlo", 1967, No. 23.
Fall Ya "Red Apple" (in Polish).— "Kino", 1977, No. 3.
Khoroshchak A. Meeting with Tolomush Okeev in "Quantum" (in Polish).— "Film in the world", 1976, No. 10—11.
T. Okeev talks about the film "Ulan" (in Polish).— "Screen", 1977, No. 19.
Khudzhinska M. Festival of bold films (in Polish).— "Screen", 1974, No. 31.