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A Siberian Documentary: The Winter Road. The Land of Fierce…

Bolot — Wed, 05 May 2010 05:46:38 +0000

The Winter Road Documentary Poster

This is the video preview of Nikolay Evstifeev’s documentary “THE WINTER ROAD. The Land of Fierce…” about the sever work in Siberia’s Yakutia. Here you can see how hard ordinary people’s work can be in the toughest part of Siberia.

The documentary film won The Best Directing Award at The 17th Saint Anna Film Festival and The Best Cinematography Award at The 29th VGIK Film Festival. Btw, Anton Safronov was a camera man.

The documentary is about Yakutia, the sever land of truckers, gold miners, hunters, oil & other industry workers. Extreme conditions are revealed in every capture. Survival at minus 50 degrees Celsius, ice roads on rivers, people’s attitude to nature, wild life… and PEOPLE without false manners and any compromises.

Young documentary filmmakers traveled winter roads in Yakutia, Siberia/Russia. They met many ordinary workers, who appeared to be real heroes of daily life.

“This film is very sincere! This is a real big documentary!” said Michael Porechenkov, the chairman of the 29th VGIK Film Festival jury, a famous Russian actor.

One more thing

Nikolay Evstifeev is a Yakutian. He was born here. He tends to say about himself like this, “I am a guy from the remote province of Yakutia. I spent my childhood playing football with diamonds against bears.” The last sentence must be considered as a joke.

In the video

The interview with a Siberian/Yakutian ice road trucker. He says that he doesn’t have high education, thus he can’t find a good-paid job in the city. Maximum non-educated worker may earn 15,000 rubles (500 USD) per month. To work daily for such a little salary is not worth at all. That amount of money is not enough for living. By working as a trucker, he can work much more. That’s why he prefered to be a truck driver.

Here on a winter road it is, indeed, tough, unsafe and risky, everything can happen to a driver on the way, but it pays. He can raise pretty much funds for one ride and afford himself to buy any food he wishes, etc.

P.S. Thank a friend of mine, Slava Petrov, for letting me know about this documentary with real life depiction.Similar Posts:

Iceland Air’s work in Yakutsk on an Icelandic News Channel

Bolot — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:59:13 +0000

Received a message from an Icelandic friend of mine. He wrote, “Yakutsk was on Icelandic News Channel this evening.” Later, he explained that it was the reportage about an Icelandic mechanic’ work at Yakutsk Airport. A representative of Iceland Air, that leased 5 Boing 737 planes to Yakutia Airlines, said in his interview, “It is -27, people are showing hospitality.”

Watch the video (streaming via Windows Media Player)

Though I do not understand a word of the Icelandic language, I got a clear idea of what a mechanical engineer talked about in the interview. Sever winter conditions, extremely cold weather, working in the early morning, Yakutsk, Siberia, etc. The video footage is great. It seems the reportage was made a month ago, in March 2010.

Via VisirSimilar Posts:

The 1st Yakutia-made epic movie: “By the Will of Genghis Khan”

Bolot — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:20:17 +0000

‘By the Will of Genghis Khan’ is the first epic movie made by the Yakut director, Andrey Borisov, with the financial support of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The official Russian theatrical premier took place on March 12, 2009. On this upcoming Friday, April 09, 2010, it will be shown on the National TV Channel “Russia.” Another big event for us, Yakutians.

Who is Andrey Borisov?

Andrey Borisov, the Yakut director

Well, Andrey Borisov is the person, whom I will not be ever tired of promoting. He is the famous Yakut dramatic art director.

When we say the Sakha Theater, it is immediately associated with his name. No wonder. With his first student work, the play “My Desired Blue Coast”, he made the Sakha Theater acclaimed in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many foreign countries. Besides, his first masterpiece brought to him the USSR State Award in the deep Soviet era. Can you comprehend that honor? Maybe, not yet. Well, it is all the same, as if a cinematography department senior student would deserve the Oscar award with his/her diploma work.

The State Award wasn’t his last achievement. While being a stage and art director at the theater, he kept stunning people by getting many prestigious national theatrical awards. Eventually he became the minister of culture of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). More than 15 years passed, and he is still on this position. Believe me, he is not an ordinary official. In the course of that time he staged many plays, he launched The Arctic State University of Culture and Art in Yakutsk, that educated dozens of talented actors and directors.

Finally, he implemented his two big dreams. The first one was to stage the Yakut heroic epos “Olonkho.” He made it true five years ago with the fantastic play “Kyys Djebeliye“. The second one was to make the full-length epic movie. That is exactly what this post is about. A year ago the world received another movie about the Mongolian hero – ‘By the Will Of Genghis Khan’ with Hollywood stars Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Oleg Taktarov. More movie info is here.

Read more about A. Borisov’s biography at YakutiaToday.com.

What did Yakutians say about the movie?

First, it is necessary to say that there was much expectation in Yakutia. Locals wished to see it as something tremendous and deserving as minimum as Oscar. When “By the Will Of Genghis Khan” started in local theaters, it was really hard to get tickets. I, for instance, was lucky to book two tickets a week prior to the show.

Second, people experienced discrepant feelings… Like disappointment. The piece appeared to be too Asian-minded, far away from the classic-Hollywood-blockbuster look… Like “What is the hell?”. Why is everything done in the strange manner? Is it the sign of movie-making experience absence? Or.. Was Andrey Borisov’s genius brimmed over and he was too original?.. Like uncertainty. Maybe, Yakutia’s government shouldn’t risk and give Andrey Borisov 10 million USD (btw, the final budget varies/goes lower from time to time) to create another movie about Genghis Khan?.. And, finally… Like proud. Whatever people say, Andrey Savvich (as we call him here) just did it, he made the first Yakutian movie, and he was able enough to show the real beauty of Siberia and Asia. Nature in his movie looks just fantastic.

Third, people prefer to keep silence and wait for what the world would say about it.

I am wondering
What will be his next project? Oh, man. I sound like his fan. Maybe, that’s because he made me feel proud of living in Yakutia, the biggest Siberian region.

Do I like this movie? Hard to say. See above.Similar Posts:

Klavdia & Guerman Khatylaevs’ concert in the Siberian city of Yakutsk

Bolot — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:34:21 +0000

Guerman Khatylaev is greeting his fans in Yakutsk. Photo by Ajar Varlamov.

On March 1st, 2010, Klavdia & Guerman Khatylaevs gave a concert in the Siberian city of Yakutsk. Apart from them, various Yakut artists performed in that evening. And it can be seen in this introduction video. eYakutia.com says many thanks to its contributor Ajar Varlamov.

Take a look at Ajar Varlamov’s videos and photographs.

Short info:

The Khatylaevs are the spouse. They are the famous Yakutsk-based ethno musicians. Like Stepanida Borisova and Albina Degtyareva, they are well-known in Yakutia and abroad. Last years they devoted themselves to teaching kids how to play Siberian peoples’ national instruments. Precisely, they brought up the children consort “Djesikei.” By the way, you can see their apprentices in the video.

The introduction video with various artists (musicians, drummers, a singer, dancers):

More videos will be posted on this page, when all editing work will be finished. By the way, I am not a big expert on editing, and Ajar is not a pro cameraman. Nevertheless, we do our best.

Photographs of Klavdia and Guerman’s concert in Yakutsk:

Similar Posts:

Mamont Yakutsk Off-Road Club on Jack London Lake

Bolot — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:09:42 +0000

The archival video: 4wd ice jumping by Mamont Yakutsk Off-Road Club on Jack London Lake, Magadan Oblast.Similar Posts:

David McAlmont and Michael Nyman: The Coldest Place On Earth

Bolot — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:48:28 +0000

David McAlmont and Michael Nyman perform ‘The Coldest Place on Earth’, a new song written specially for Paul Morley’s Showing off…

“So here we have That Instrumental from the movie The Piano (you know the one) overlain with David McAlmont’s new, exquisitely sung lyrics inspired by the extremely chilly Siberian city of Yakutsk. Genuinely lovely.” That’s what I found at Metro.co.uk together with the last rumours about Lady Gaga. Fantastic!

Click here to watch the exclusive live performance of ‘The Coldest Place on Earth’

“After Paul Morley fell in love with The Glare album he invited David and Michael to perform on his acclaimed Showing Off podcast in December. A seasonal song was requested and it was thought, in the context of the development of the album, The Glare (released October 26th 2009), that The Heart Asks Pleasure First, written for Jane Campion’s film The Piano had a distinctly seasonal atmosphere. It was also felt that the lyrics should be seasonal but not specifically ‘Yulish’. So, instead of jingling bells, morbidly obese men in red clothes and gifts wrapped beneath decorated trees an experience of profound cold on earth was sought and researched. An article about a journey to Yakutsk was located in the Independent. The idea of a coldest place on earth felt appropriate to the music and a new song was born. It’s appropriateness is remarkable because Michael’s music was inspired by a piece about winter in the coldest, remotest part of Scotland,” says Zebralution10’s review on iTune.

That’s really amazing! If you read that article, you would note my name was mentioned in it Similar Posts:

RussiaToday’s XL Report: Yakutia

Bolot — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:53:59 +0000

On January 24, 2010, RussiaToday aired the 25-min report about Yakutia. A nice story.

Synopsis: Yakutia is the largest republic in Russia and one of the most extreme places on the planet. It’s officially the coldest inhabited place on earth. Yakutsk is the capital and largest city of the region, built entirely on permafrost. But despite the cold weather, our correspondent James Brown found plenty of warm people there. Explore Yakutia with us on RT.Similar Posts:

400 km Topolinoe to Uchugei Reindeer Sledding Expedition

Bolot — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:56:30 +0000

The Polar Cavalry. That way nine courageous men called themselves. They made an exciting expedition through mountain taiga. 400 km from the village of Topolinoe to Oymyakonsky region is not a joke. They chose the traditional means of transport, reindeer sleds.

The project initiator Andrey I (a famous Russian TV presenter) looks tired. They arrived just yesterday [March 8th], and as he witnessed, he felt all charms of nomad life, he got his nose frozen as well.

Not all emotions the video camera could record and fix. There are a lot left behind the cam.

The purpose of the expedition was to learn the life of reindeer herders and to honour the memory of the Great Patriotic War participants.

The Polar Cavalry is going to be conducted annually. The next year Finish and Norwegian tourists plan to come and experience new travel experience in Siberia’s Yakutia.

The video story is made by INTERESNO TV Show, Yakutsk.Similar Posts:

Veronika Vysokikh, Miss Virtual Yakutia 2010

Bolot — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:40:29 +0000

Veronika Vysokikh, Miss Virtual Yakutia 2010

24-year-old Veronika Vysokikh earned the Miss Virtual Yakutia 2010 crown. She won the online beauty pageant and was recognized by people’s choice as the best of 137 participants. Congratulations!

Miss Virtual Yakutia is an annual online contest. It is more prestigious than Miss Yakutia. MVY is considered to be the big Internet-based event hosted by Sakha Internet LLC in Yakutsk. It usually starts in the early December and ends in the beginning of March, a few days prior to Russia’s Women Day, March 8th.

Further, please, find Veronika Vysokikh’s video and photographs.

Video Presentation:

Veronika’s Portfolio:

Most of the above pictures are vertical, so click thumbnails to see photos in full size.

Miss Virtual Yakutia WebsiteSimilar Posts:

Saina, the singer of Yakutia’s Northern nations

Bolot — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:56:17 +0000

Saina, a Yakutsk-based ethno singer

Think no need to present Saina. She can do it herself. Listen to her audio presentation track with different songs. I can say only that she started as a Yakutsk-based pop singer. Now she prefers to sing songs of northern peoples living in Siberia’s Yakutia. That’s really great.

This demo was specially recorded for eYakutia.com and YakutiaToday.com. To listen tracks, just click on their titles.

A demo track with various songs

Here is one of her songs. Complete version.

The Song Of A Girl

Watch also her video with the hit “Yakutsk.” This song dedicated to Yakutsk made here famous in Yakutia.

Saina’s Website
Saina can be easily found on Facebook. Browse through the member list of the eYakutia.com – English Yakutia fan pageSimilar Posts: