Shadow of the Holy Book

Why are some of the world's biggest international companies translating the Ruhnama, an absurd government propaganda book from Turkmenistan, into their own languages?

This high-spirited, political satire exposes the complicity of multinational corporations in supporting and legitimizing dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov, of Turkmenistan, one of the world's most egregious violators of human rights. Niyazov, self-appointed President for Life, transformed a remote Central Asian republic into one of the most oppressive, megalomaniacal and bizarre regimes in recent history. Turkmenistan, which borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran, is also home to one of the world's largest oil and natural gas reserves. Such resource endowments have attracted world leaders and multi-billion dollar corporations who set aside their morals and knowingly propped up the regime to secure profitable business deals.

"Funny and Confrontational." - John Anderson, Variety

"Five Inspirational Stars for a docugation gone surreal, this grows on me, in that funny megalomaniacal way." - Peter Wintonick, POV Magazine, Canada

Running Time

91 mins

Year

2007

Kanopy ID

1139745

Filmmakers

Arto Halonen

Languages

English, Turkmen

Subjects

Business > Economics & Globalization

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Shadow of the Holy Book

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