The Making of an Empire
Director: Jos de Putter
Running Time: 98 mins
The Netherlands 1999

The Making of an Empire is a portrait of a man and his country at a decisive moment in history. Twenty five years ago, this man Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev founded a Moscow based underground movement, which later became known as the widely feared Chechnyan mafia.

To the Chechnyans, however, it was the cradle of their liberation movement. It is from here that people plan the future of the Caucasus, a future that is based on the old traditions of clans, on deep religious feelings, and on the law of blood revenge.

This man falls within the Chechnyan tradition of bandit-warrior. He is godfather, escaped convict, war hero, publicity manager and visionary.

Jos De Putter was shocked by the devastation he found in Grozny: “It reminded me of the photos of Dresden at the end of World War II … anywhere there is a war, the important areas are hit. By the nature of war, the whole city – and I mean literally the whole city – is in ruins. People are living in holes because Russia has not kept its promise of paying for reconstruction”.

Filmography:
Dance Grozny Dance (2003); Passing Future (2002); The Making Of A New Empire(1999) Nagasaki Stories (1997) Solo, the Law Of The Favela (1994)

PLEASE NOTE; THE GROZNY CHILDRENS DANCE TROUPE WILL BE PERFORMING LIVE IN OXFORD TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2003

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