Between Heaven and Earth The Netherlands / Uzbekistan / Russia
2007, 72min.
Prod.: Jorinde Soree, Dir.: Frank van den Engel, Masja Novikova, Script: Frank van den Engel, Dir. of Phot.: Melle van Essen, Music: Hans Helewouts, Sound: Pieter Guyt, Editor: Stefan Kamp.
The film tells the story of Achat and Tarsun, childhood friends who are now in their late fifties. At the age of seven they were swept away when a tightrope walker came to their village. They both decided to become apprentices to the artist, and they have been the best of friends ever since. They grow up together, fall in love, start a family and each sets up a family circus. They both join the opposition party ERK – meaning ‘freedom’ in Uzbek. Achat develops into a fully-fledged activist, while Tarsun’s talents lie in administration: he rises to the vice-chairmanship of the party. One year after Uzbekistan’s independence all opposition parties are outlawed. ERK goes underground. Tarsun remains active, but Achat decides to become a member of an active human rights organisation, because he does not want to be an outlaw. And then one day, some ten years ago, Tarsun hears that his son Davron has drowned in unexplained circumstances. It appears to be a final warning for Tarsun to stop his illegal activities. He takes the warning to heart and leaves the party overnight, his resistance broken. He sets himself up as an educator of the people, but stays away from politics in order to protect his family. However hard Tarsun and Achat try to hang on to their special bond, their friendship comes under strong pressure regardless. Both men in their own way struggle with the dilemma of the choices they have had to make for themselves, for their friendship and for their loved ones.
| Engel, Frank van den Frank van den Engel (born 1956, Rotterdam)
Started his career as managing director of Strengholt Televideo. In 1997 he started an independent documentary production company Zeppers Film & TV as executive producer and in ten years time he produced over 45 films for theatre and television. Some of them were awarded at prestigious festivals around the world. Nowadays he combines production work with the development and realisation of his own film projects, and with the coaching of first time directors.
Filmography (selected)
I Always Come Back (2001), Lipari (2006), Between Heaven And Earth (2007).
Novikova, Masja Masja Novikova (born 1956, Moscow)
Has been living and working in Amsterdam since 1989. She studied camera, script, writing and film direction. She directed her first film in 2005.
Filmography
Fallen Angel (2005), Three Comrades (2006), Between Heaven And Eath (2007), In Memorandum:Aleksandr Litvinenko (2007).
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