The full-length historical drama reveals the known and unknown sides of his bright and tragic fate. 

The lead of Akhmet Baitursynov is played by actor Azamat Satybaldy

How did a simple teacher turn into a consistent fighter for the equality and rights of his people, or, in the words of the Alash leader, Alikhan Bokeikhanov, “into a fearless prophet of his beliefs, editor, publisher and creator of the only Kazakh newspaper of those times, “Qazaq”? And why had Baitursynov, who preferred the non-violent forms of struggle and condemned all violence, been arrested for six times, exiled twice and sentenced to the death penalty twice?

Frames from the “Songy ukim” (“The Last Sentence”)  film

Actress Dariya Aleksandrova in the role of Akhmet Baitursynov’s wife

The moving picture “Songy ukim” tells about these tragic facts, how he had lived, what he had believed in, how he was a friend, and how he loved. Only the fateful adventures of a great personality’s life against the background of the country’s history are flashed before the spectator.

Despite all the challenges of life and cruel trials, he remained consistent in his principles and beliefs until his last breath. Also, the film shows the last moments of Akhmet’s life, who always believed that death could take away from him “just a mortal body, and he would never disappear by himself”, and everything he had done would become the property of the descendants.

Historical background. During the years of the “great terror” in October 1937, Akhmet Baitursynov was (again) arrested and shot on December 8, 1938 as a “class enemy”. Only the decades later, in 1988, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan rehabilitated Akhmet Baitursynov for the lack of corpus delicti in his actions. 

The moving picture was created by the “Folklore media” studio with the support of the State Center for Support of National Cinema non-commercial joint-stock company and commissioned by the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information.

On the set of the film: Mars Umarov and Yergen Tokmurzin

Behind the scenes: Azamat Satybaldy and Yerlan Nurmukhambetov

The film was shot in the cities of Almaty, Semei and on the territory of the Abai, Almaty, Zhetisu regions.

Information about the film:

“Songy ukim” (“The Last Sentence”).

Kazakhstan, 2022.

Genre: historical drama

Directors: Yergen Tokmurzin, Yerlan Nurmukhambetov

Script writer and producer: Galym Dosken

Co-authors of the script: Tursynzhan Shapai, Askar Kumyran

Director of photography: Mars Umarov

Production designers: Amantur Beisenbinov, Manarbek Adilbekuly

Composer: Beibit Akosh

Film editor: Eldiyar Madakim

Cast:

Azamat Satybaldy, Dariya Aleksandrova, Yerkebulan Daiyrov, Aidar Nauryzbayev, Alexander Bagryantsev, Yerlan Karibayev, Maksim Lukayanov, Mikhail Tokarev, Dauren Sergazin, Alexey Fialko, Nazgul Karabalina, Galymbek Ospanov, Alexander Svintsov, Nuralim Varisov, Irka Abdulmanova, Aibolat Dastanuly, etc.

Language of the film: Russian, Kazakh (with Kazakh, Russian subtitles)

Running time: 126 min.

Age index: 12+

Release date: May 23, 2024