Orzu Sharipov

Tajikistan

Born in 1956 in Dushanbe. Graduated Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography and the Department of the Direction of Non-Fiction Films of the All-State Courses for Screenwriters and Directors in Moscow, Worked as a teacher, administrator and cultural worker. His films have been shown at the Leipzig and Munich Film Festivals and received the grand prize at the Third International Eurasian Television Forum in Moscow (2000).

Live Containers
2002,26 min, DVcam, documentary
Director:
Orzu Sharipov
Screenplay:
Azimdzhon Aminov, Orzu Sharipov and Georgy Dzallaev
Cameraman:
Georgy Dzallaev

This report from a women's prison tells about economic hardships and political chaos which made many Tajik women become "live containers" out of sheer necessity, -smuggling heroin inside themselves. These women who used to lead ordinary lives could not possibly be called criminals. The government recognizes this and occasionally amnesties those women who were caught with a relatively "small" (by Tajik standards) amount of drugs. Yet, despite their sincere repentance and their joy at being liberated, there is no guarantee that life will not make them go down this terrible path again.

Contact Information for Gender Montage
Email: vitenberg@lfond.spb.ru  mmgp@genderpolicy.ru 
Website: www.soros.org/women