Dans, Grozny dans

original title:
Dans, Grozny dans
other titles:
The Damned and the Sacred
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original length:
79 min. , color
premiere:
11 April 2003, Czech Republic, One World Film Festival
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plot synopsis:
Director Jos de Putter follows a traditional youth dance group from the war-torn Chechen capital of Grozny as they prepare for and embark on a European tour.
He documents the lives of these children and their coach Ramzan Akhamadov as they deal with the chaos surrounding them.
De Putter`s portrait of the group reveals how dancing quickly becomes their life, despite the ubiquitous trauma of growing up in a country at war.
Through insightful interviews, exact observations and expert storytelling, which skillfully intercut between the children's home town in Grozny and their exuberance on tour in Europe, De Putter reveals how these young people discover comfort, confidence and dignity through dance, and the acknowledgement of their cultural identity and unquestionable talent.
The children also consider themselves ambassadors of Chechenya hoping to convince audiences that not all Chechans are separatist terrorists.
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"Dans, Grozny, Dans" earned the Grand Prize award at the first Chicago International Documentary Film Festival in 2002 and screened at a number of other film festivals, including the Tribeca and Rotterdam International Film Festivals.
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