In Paris, where a screening of the Kyrgyz film "Kurak" was held, a discussion took place regarding the role of documentary cinema in the development of the "Kyrgyz miracle." Raisa Sidenova, a researcher of Soviet documentary cinema and a lecturer in film theory at Newcastle University, noted that documentary filmmaking often remains in the shadow of national cinema, even though it served as the foundation for many masters.
The role of the Kyrgyzfilm documentary base
According to Sidenova, the documentary base of the Kyrgyzfilm studio was outstanding. Directors of that era did not merely record reality but actively experimented with visual language, editing, and form. She emphasized that representatives of the poetic school worked with a wide spectrum of themes—from historical events to everyday life.
"Documentary cinema is an underrated part of the 'Kyrgyz miracle'"
Sidenova pointed out that many famous film figures began their journey specifically in documentary filmmaking. Among them are USSR People's Artist film director Tolomush Okeev and People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic and the USSR director Bolotbek Shamshiev.
The work of Algimantasas Vidugiris
The researcher paid special attention to the figure of Algimantasas Vidugiris—a Soviet and Kyrgyz film dramaturge, director, and academician. Sidenova emphasized that his significance for world documentary cinema is immense. Currently, the researcher is working on a book titled "From Truth to Verite," dedicated to Soviet poetic documentary cinema, which includes the study of Kyrgyzfilm's works.
Context
The discussion took place as part of the international conference "Cinematic Stories of Central Asia: Perspectives," which was held in France from October 8 to October 10, 2026.
