With special relevance against the current political backdrop of the Russian annexation of the Crimea, Haytarma is a compelling Ukrainian/Crimean produced short-film about the forcible deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Soviet authorities in 1944. Based on true events, the film stylishly portrays the story of a young ethnic Crimean Tatar test pilot (Sultan) and his efforts to protect his family from the unexpected brutal deportation.
The film starring-point is soon after Crimea liberation from three-years of destructive Nazi occupation. Sultan returns home to visit his relatives, coinciding with the Commissar of State Security decree to harshly punish by deportation, based on lavish collective collaboration charges, all Crimean Tatars to Central Asia. A race historically regarded as anti-Soviet by its Moscow crony masters.
A Ukrainian Crimean independent television channel produced and financed film. Given the pungent politically situation, the film aims a scattering of jingoism directed as a slap in the face to its Russian neighbours. Generally, Haytarma will be appreciated by eager historical nuts and cherished by nationalistic Ukrainians and ethnic Tatars. Yet, haply attention and interest will be recognised by mainstream international theatre audiences or DVD viewers. In short, Haytarma is a deeply moving patriotic film, visualising tales, revision told, lived and experienced by a population nations parents' and grandparents' to the present generation; yet a true-story not unappreciated by non-nationals of this geographical location. The film is historically genuine, historically accurate and admirably depicts the identity of the people and national characteristics. Even though, hefty questions still require riposte, and answers are still debated and disputed regarding the forcible deportation, carefully, though the film is neither over patriotic or aloft Russophobic.
Haytarma is a short film, ending unexpectedly with a loose conclusion. Yet, the story is griping and historical faultless. A crime against humanity? Or a state security requisite? Neither should distract against the quality of this short-film.
