Soundtracks from films all over the world. “Arshin Mal Alan” – The Cloth Peddler (Azerbaijan, 1917).
‘Arshin Mal Alan’ is an Azerbaijan film from 1917, directed by Boris Svetlov. The soundtrack is composed by Uzeyir Hajibeyov and is performed by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Niyazi.
The story is about the rich Asgar who wants to marry. To find the one and make sure she’s not after his money, he pretends to be poorer than he really is. When he meets his true love, the woman is scared her father will not accept a down-and-outer for a son-in-law. Asgar then shows how wealthy he really is and he also wins over dad.
Uzeyir Hajibeyov lived in Azerbaijan from 1885 to his death in 1948. Besides composer, he was also a conductor, scientist, playwright, teacher, and translator, and Hajibeyov is also seen as the father of Azerbaijan classical music and opera. His opera ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ is a unique fusion of western classical music and Azerbaijan traditional music. ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ was made into a film for the first time in 1917.
SCHEDULE
You have until Sunday to enjoy independent cinema from around the world during the Internationaal Filmfestival in Rotterdam (Dutch). The 38th edition of the festival pays special attention to Asian ghost movies. Next to the screening of over 30 films, visitors can also admire an actual haunted house. Within this theme, Indonesia is a very special country. There’s not a country in the world where so many ghosts live and where there’s so much knowledge about and fear for them as in this intriguing country. Every week, a new local horror film comes out in the cinemas and the amount of Indonesian horror films on DVD is beyond counting. This and much, much more world cinema at the IFFR in Rotterdam until Sunday.
