The feature film “44”, set against the backdrop of Azerbaijan’s 44-day war in 2020, premiered at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku on 12 October. The film explores the experiences of military personnel and civilians during the war and its impact on the country.
The event opened with a minute of silence in memory of those killed in the war, followed by a live performance of the film’s soundtrack by the Symphony Orchestra of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and the Azerbaijan State Choir Capella.
Arzu Aliyeva, head of the Baku Media Center, and Alena Aliyeva attended the premiere.
A documentary segment featuring archival footage traced key developments in Azerbaijan’s recent history and the events leading up to the 2020 war.
The film is told through the perspective of a cadet known as “44”. The plot follows Special Forces officer Rashad Khalilov, Turkish orthopedic doctor Zeynep Ozdemir, who works in Azerbaijan, and Special Operations Group commander Colonel Ramazan Karimov.
The film was produced with the support of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture, the Cinema Agency of Azerbaijan (ARKA) and the Baku Media Center. An adaptation of the wartime experience for the screen, the project focuses on the lives of military personnel and the role of the armed forces during the conflict.
The film’s artistic director is Anar Alakbarov, while Ismail Safarali and Maksim Smetana served as directors. The screenplay was written by Anar Alakbarov and Ismail Iman. The cast includes Azerbaijani actors and Turkish actress Özge Gürel.
Production took place over five years, with filming at more than 130 locations in Baku, Absheron, Aghdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Goranboy, Ganja, Khojaly, Khojavand, Khizi, Lerik and Shusha.
Following the screening, relatives of those killed in the war, veterans of the 2020 conflict and members of the film’s creative and technical teams addressed the audience.
The filmmakers plan to organise screenings abroad and submit the film to international festivals. “44” is scheduled to open in cinemas across Azerbaijan on 15 October.
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