圣书的影子_电影大全
圣书的影子
又名: Shadow of the Holy Book
导演: Arto Halonen
类型: 纪录片
制片国家/地区: 芬兰/丹麦/瑞士/德国
语言: 芬兰语/土库曼语/英语
上映日期: 2008-02-29
片长: 90 分钟
IMDb链接: tt1139618
剧情简介
Why are some of the world's biggest international companies translating an absurd foreign
book into their own language, trying to hide their aims and avoid discussion about the human
rights and freedom of speech situation in Turkmenistan?
Shadow Of The Holy Book investigates the morality of international companies and the dictatorship
of oil-and-gas-rich Turkmenistan. These companies help give the dictatorship the propaganda support
that it needs to survive. Turkmenistan’s dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov, has written a ludicrous
book: the Ruhnama, the Book of the Soul, a key tool in the government’s subjugation of human
rights and free speech. Yet many international companies give their clandestine support to the
Ruhnama and help suppress the country’s voices of opposition and dissidence – in return for multimillion-
dollar business deals.
The film follows lawyer/author Kevin Frazier and film director Arto Halonen as they travel from Europe
to Turkmenistan, and all the way to the United States. The filmmakers are in search of companies
operating in Turkmenistan, particularly the companies that have translated the Ruhnama
books into their own languages, and thus supported Turkmenistan's dictatorship in the most absurd
way possible.
The film also reflects the current situation in Turkmenistan, the impact of the Ruhnama book, and
the ethics of the companies operating there. This is done through the dissidents and refugees,
many of whom have been the targets of persecution, torture, and assassination attempts organised
by the Turkmenistan government.
Turkmenistan has some of the biggest oil-and-gas reserves in the world, and this has increased
the greed and ruthlessness of corporate activities in the region. Well-known companies like DaimlerChrysler,
Siemens, Bouygues and Caterpillar praise and support the Ruhnama book, a book that
has destroyed the education system and has served as the centerpiece of the dictatorship. The
filmmakers look for corporate responsibility, and the companies duck and hide – until a couple of
business executives appear who are ready to talk and take responsibility.
The film is the story of a dictatorship, and also of the transition from one leader to the next. After
the sudden death of Saparmurat Niyazov, the creator of the Ruhnama book, power has transferred
to Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov who has, on the surface, made reforms but in terms of violations
against freedom of speech and human rights everything has remained the same. He has
also praised the Ruhnama, and used it to increase his power. Therefore international corporations
continue to use the same techniques to please the new leader as they did with Niyazov. The
shadow of the holy book continues to stretch beyond Niyazov’s grave.
