Malika Musayeva was born in Grozny, Chechen Republic. Through the Second Chehen Battle in 1999, she fled the Chechen Republic. Throughout her research at Russia’s Kabardino-Balkarian State College she directed a number of brief movies which have been introduced at varied worldwide movie festivals. She later obtained a level in Directing on the Hamburg Media Faculty in Germany. In Hamburg, she directed two brief movies. “The Cage is In search of a Fowl” marks her characteristic debut. She at the moment resides and works in Germany.
“The Cage Is In search of a Fowl” is screening on the 2023 Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant, which runs from February 16-26.
W&H: Describe the movie for us in your individual phrases.
MM: “The Cage Is In search of a Fowl” is a coming-of-age story of a younger Chechen lady referred to as Yakha who lives in a small Chechen village. She witnesses the patriarchal world the place the fates of her sister, mom, and feminine buddy unravel. Yakha decides to cease this vicious circle.
It’s a story of changing into conscious of her actual self, of the world round her. She makes an attempt to combat for the appropriate to determine on the right way to stay her personal life.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
MM: There was no particular event or second that led to the creation of this movie. It was moderately an extended, cumulative means of witnessing the fates of people who find themselves necessary to me — for instance, my mates and sisters. It’s a type of compilation of Chechen ladies’s fates which have been collected in my reminiscence. And when it grew to become doable, I made my debut movie on that topic.
I’ve at all times cared in regards to the place of Chechen ladies. I do know in regards to the state of affairs and place of ladies in my homeland. It’s a particular area the place you don’t speak about your self and your issues. You will need to me that we speak for ourselves.
W&H: What would you like folks to consider after they watch the movie?
MM: I hope that the screening of the movie on the Berlin Movie Pageant will deliver hope to Chechen women. Even when that hope is a drop within the ocean. I want to want Chechen ladies to not lose their dream, and to place confidence in themselves. Being born as a Chechen is just not a verdict. And there may be additionally the hope that after watching this movie, society will take discover of the ladies’s drawback in Chechnya. And, as [Russian director] Alexander Sokurov [who taught me at Kabardino-Balkarian State University] used to say, “to melt temperament.”
W&H: What was the most important problem in making the movie?
MM: The truth that it was doable to make this movie is an actual marvel. In Chechnya, characteristic movies have by no means been made, and other people have no idea what it’s. As well as, the Chechen society is intimidated and lives in fixed worry. That may be a consequence of the 2 damaging wars and the political regime wherein folks stay now. To start with, it was troublesome to seek out individuals who would conform to make a movie. The issue was additionally that I didn’t perceive the place to make this type of movie. With the producer Nikolay Yankin (the Sokurov Basis’s Instance of Intonation), we travelled virtually everywhere in the North Caucasus. It was a tough and troublesome course of. At one level, I used to be simply discouraged, and I assumed I might by no means be capable to make this movie. Finally, like a light-weight on the finish of the tunnel, I arrived in a small village on the border with Chechnya and Ingushetia. On this village, I met some wonderful individuals who had dared to stroll this manner with me.
W&H: How did you get your movie funded? Share some insights into how you bought the movie made.
MM: I made the movie with the assist of the Alexander Sokurov Basis Instance of Intonation and Ilya Stewart’s Hype Studios. The unique proposal to shoot with the assistance of the Instance of Intonation Basis got here from Alexander Sokurov, below whom I studied within the directing workshop at Kabardino- Balkarian College within the metropolis of Nalchik. With out my grasp, this movie would merely not have occurred. In any respect levels, essentially the most troublesome and typically dangerous ones, Alexander Sokurov helped and supported me in all the pieces. I’ll by no means have the phrases to thank my grasp.
W&H: What impressed you to change into a filmmaker?
MM: I by no means had the dream of changing into a movie director. My dream since childhood was to change into a journalist. My idols was Anna Politkovskaya and Natalia Estemirova, and I dreamed of constant their work and being a human rights activist. I went into directing by likelihood – my mother and father wouldn’t let me go to a different metropolis the place I may research journalism. Then I discovered that movie director Alexander Sokurov was coming to Nalchik and was opening a directing workshop. I used to be very unhappy that I used to be not allowed to go to check Journalism after which my mom, to make up for it one way or the other, actually took me by the hand to the college, to the doorway examination for Alexander Sokurov. Later, she regretted it as a result of I had not change into an ideal Chechen mom, spouse, and housewife.
W&H: What’s the very best and worst recommendation you’ve obtained?
MM: There have been many, however I can’t bear in mind any. I at all times find yourself doing what I believe is true for me.
W&H: What recommendation do you could have for different ladies administrators?
MM: I want to give the phrases that Alexander Sokurov used to inform us, “By no means be afraid of something.”
W&H: Identify your favourite woman-directed movie and why.
MM: I actually love Rohrwacher’s works. My most favourite movie is “The Wonders.” Her movies for me are an actual miracle, some type of magic. I’m additionally an enormous fan of Chantal Akerman’s movies. Her work may be very near me – it speaks to me and forces me to look deep into myself.
W&H: What, if any, obligations do you suppose storytellers must confront the tumult on the earth, from the pandemic to the lack of abortion rights and systemic violence?
MM: Cinema is a strong medium for influencing and educating. It’s additionally a political instrument. Movie can also be a type of confrontation and wrestle, and the extra folks within the movie trade suppose and combat for rights, the extra society has an opportunity to face up in opposition to them. Movie can also be a type of opposition and combat.
W&H: The movie trade has an extended historical past of underrepresenting folks of coloration onscreen and behind the scenes and reinforcing — and creating — adverse stereotypes. What actions do you suppose have to be taken to make Hollywood and/or the doc world extra inclusive?
MM: It’s crucial that this previous white man world is disadvantaged of its energy. The movie world wants extra folks of coloration who’re actors, actresses, screenwriters, and administrators. It appears to me that sadly this variation remains to be very minimal, at the very least in Germany, the place I stay.
I wish to see younger administrators and actors who’re folks of coloration to have the ability to make their very own tales, moderately than have their tales being informed by white folks. Individuals of coloration ought to get extra assist, funding, and alternatives to inform their very own tales, not the tales the white world dictates to them. This requires that the ill-informed white male choice makers now not sit in management positions.
It appears to me that change is required from inside, and this variation shouldn’t be a problem on the periphery of the trade, however the primary job. Change has to come back from inside.
Supply: Women And Hollywood