(In Between Dying)
Hilal Baydarov

Azerbaijan – Mexico – USA
2020, HD, col., 88’
Azerbaijani o.v.

Sceneggiatura, montaggio / Screenplay, Editing: Hilal Baydarov. Fotografia / Photography: Elshan Abbasov.  Musica / Music: Kanan Rustamli. Suono / Sound: Orkhan Hasanov, Daniel Timmons, Ben Kruse. Interpreti /Cast: Orkhan Iskandarli, Rana Asgarova, Maryam Naghiyeva, Huseyn Nasirov, Kamran Huseynov, Samir Abbasov, Murvat Abdulazizov, Kubra Shukurova, Narmin Hasanova, Oktay Namazov, Gulara Huseynova, Parviz Isagov, Gulnaz Ismayilova. Produzione / Produced by: Ucqar Film. Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Splendor Omnia Studios, Louverture Films. Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: Pluto Film.

Davud is a misunderstood, restless young man in search of his “true” family, those whom he feels certain will bring love and meaning to his life. When, over the course of one day, he experiences an unexpected series of accidents with people that each time results in a death, invisible memories, narratives and concerns rise to the surface. Davud is propelled into a journey of discovery, until he finally comes to accept that living in danger is his fate, that death will always be stronger than his own narratives, and that shedding them is his initiation into entering life more fully. Set on the path of becoming, Davud ultimately returns to the place where he has always lived and to the love that was always there.
In Between Dying premiered in competition at the latest Venice Film Festival.

“A central concern in all my work is the person who is trying to understand the reason he is alive, present, here, in this world. The person who can‘t love, yet only believes in love. The person who is trying to find his real family, certain that this will bring real meaning to his life. Davud is the person in this story who reminds us of the possibility of love… I always keep in mind Bresson‘s emphasis: ‘feeling before understanding’ and so I’ve always focused on moments of inspiration … most of the people I work with consistently are in fact my family and close friends. In an environment like Azerbaijan, there can be many restrictions, but actually, I have to confess that I love the restrictions and limitations. In a way, they have forced me, and all of us, to find new ways to express our feelings.” (H. Baydarov)

Hilal Baydarov
Hilal Baydarov was born in 1987 in Baku, Azerbaijian. After his degree in informatics, he studied directing at the film school in Sarajevo under Hungarian director Béla Tarr. The Trieste FF presented in 2020 his documentary Mother and Son. Nails in my Brain has been selected in the documentary competition of this year.

filmografia scelta / selected filmography
2018 Adsız Yüksəkliklər (Hills Without Names); Ad Günü doc.; Selimpaşada Bir Gün doc. 2019 Xurmalar yetişən vaxt (When the Persimmons Grew) doc.; Premi / Awards: Sarajevo FF – Miglior documentario / Best Documentary; Ana və oğul (Mother and Son) doc. 2020 Beynimdəki mismarlar (Nails in my Brain) doc.; Səpələnmİş ölümlər arasinda (In Between Dying)

Ucqar Film
ucqarfilm@gmail.com
www.ucqarfilm.com

Pluto Film
Schliemannstr. 5
10437 Berlin
Germany
tel. +49 30 21918220
info@plutofilm.de
plutofilm.de