Latvian director wants to restore the «shattered film image of Kazakhstan

V.Vilks is famous for making clips for Russian pop and rock bands. The assets include videos for "Mummy Troll" band, "B-2", Zemfira, "Spleen", Ivan Urgant and many others.

This spring he has co-authored with Slawomir Leontiev from Lithuania at the studio "Kazakhfilm" to shoot his first feature film named "Prepod" (Teacher). Installation and special effects were produced in Latvia by VilksProduction company. Late last week, the picture was shown in Latvia, in Splendid Palace Riga Cinema. Viewing was held in honor of the 22nd anniversary of independence of Kazakhstan.

As noted by Mr.Vilks, the musical youth comedy "Prepod" was filmed at public money. Cinema is not compensated in Kazakhstan, local tapes have to compete not only with the American, but also with the Russian ones".

"Before I was given the task to make a youth film about students in the country with a strong Muslim tradition. On the screen there is no any Asian person, and all speak Russian... By that Kazakhstan proves the falsity of the thesis that where the Russian language, there is Russia. On the contrary, the Kazakhs are deep patriots. May seem surprising that this patriotism has no common points with nationalism. Ther is patriotism, and there is no nationalism. And they say our heroes speak perfect Russian without an accent", said the Latvian director.

Concerning the future of the project, V.Vilks stressed that "Kazakhs love their country, and their patriotic feelings were hurt by the movie of Sacha Baron Cohen called "Borat". Our task is by a new film to restore the downtrodden image of Kazakhstan, and partly at the British money".