Baku, Azerbaijan, April 25. A restored version
of the film “On Distant Shores” (1958) in German was digitally
restored and showcased in Berlin, following a request from the
Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany, Trend reports.
The restoration, which really hit the nail on the head in terms
of enhancing the image and sound quality, was carried out in
cahoots with the DEFA studio and various archival sources.
The film “On Distant Shores” was dubbed into German in 1959 by
the DEFA studio in Berlin and was presented under the title Damals
in Triest. After extensive collaboration between the Azerbaijani
embassy, the DEFA studio, and archival organizations, the German
version of the film was discovered and meticulously restored by a
Berlin-based company specializing in classic film restoration.
The restored version was screened with the organizational
support of the Azerbaijani Embassy at the renowned Urania cinema in
Berlin, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory over
fascism in World War II.
The event was attended by representatives from German government
institutions, ambassadors from various countries, academics,
cultural figures, film experts, and journalists, as well as members
of the Azerbaijani, Turkic, and other friendly communities residing
in Germany.
In his speech, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany Nasimi Aghayev
emphasized that the film reflected the determination, selflessness,
and unwavering will of the partisan hero Mehdi Huseynzade. He noted
that Huseynzade was not only a devoted warrior but also a symbol of
international solidarity and heroism in the fight against fascism,
sacrificing his life for this cause far from his homeland.
The diplomat, while discussing Azerbaijan’s remarkable role in
the historic triumph over fascism, pointed out that approximately
700,000 Azerbaijanis took up arms, with more than 300,000 losing
their lives. Over 170,000 soldiers and officers were awarded
various orders and medals, including 130 who were honored with the
title “Hero of the Soviet Union.” He highlighted the glorious
combat path of the national rifle divisions, made up of Azerbaijani
conscripts and volunteers, from the Caucasus to Berlin. Ambassador
Agayev also noted that Azerbaijan not only contributed human
resources to the fight against fascism but also played a crucial
role with its rich energy resources.
Following the speech, the film was enthusiastically viewed by
the audience. The influential German newspaper Berliner
Zeitung published a detailed article about the event
(https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/damals-in-triest-so-erinnert-aserbaidschan-in-berlin-an-das-ende-des-zweiten-weltkriegs-li.2319067),
informing readers about the film and Azerbaijan’s contribution to
the victory. TV Berlin and the Stimme Der Hauptstadt portal also
broadcast detailed reports about the event (https://www.stimme-der-hauptstadt.berlin/restaurierter-film-damals-in-triest-begeisterte-das-publikum/portalı).
The restored version of the film can be viewed through the
following link: https://youtu.be/qbrgRXHs7xA?feature=shared.
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