Business en Absurdistan
( Shadow of the Holy Book )

Arto Halonen
2008 - 90 min - 35 mm - Couleur - Finlande, Danemark, Suisse

Turkmenistan is a closed dictatorship with great oil and gas reserves. The now deceased dictator Saparmurat Niazov wrote the Ruhnama, also known as "The Book of Soul", as guidance and law for his citizens. Ruhnama restricts freedom of speech as well as human rights and, despite the dictator’s death, the book is still a significant influence in the country.
In hope of business opportunities, international corporations have started to translate the propaganda-filled book. The appraisal of the book has helped corporations attain significant agreements with the rich dictatorship.
Western co-operation has helped Turkmenistan to maintain the dictatorship and to silence the opposition and non-conformists. Shadow of the holy book raises questions about the moral responsibility and obligations of large corporations. Are greed and profit to undermine human rights?

Existe en 52 min.

Available in 52 min.
www.shadowoftheholybook.com

Existes in 52 min. version
www.shadowoftheholybook.com