The Darvish Detonates Paris

The Darvish Detonates Paris
An illustrated poster in Czech
Directed by	Shamil Mahmudbeyov Kamil Rustambeyov
Screenplay by	Adham Gulubeyov
Based on	A Story about the Botanist-Doctor Monsieur Jordan and the Famous Sorcerer Dervish Mastali Shah by Mirza Fatali Akhundov
Produced by	Azerbaijanfilm
Starring	Sergei Yursky Adil Isgandarov Mirza Babayev Leyla Badirbeyli Hasanagha Turabov Safura Ibrahimova Enver Gasanov
Cinematography	Arif Narimanbayov Zaur Maharramov
Music by	Tofig Guliyev
Release date	11 February 1977 (1977-02-11)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	Azerbaijan
Language	Azerbaijani

The Darvish Detonates Paris is a 1976 Azerbaijani comedy film directed by Shamil Mahmudbeyov and Kamil Rustambeyov. It stars Adil Isgandarov as Hatamkhan agha, Sergei Yursky as Monsieur Jordan, and Mirza Babayev as Darvish Mastali Shah.^[1] The film was based on the satirical comedy A Story about the Botanist-doctor Monsieur Jordan and the Famous Sorcerer Dervish Mastali Shah, inspired from true events, by Azerbaijani playwright and poet Mirza Fatali Akhundov. The film criticizes the ignorance and backwardness in 19th century Azerbaijan. The character Monsieur Jordan is based on the accomplished French botanist Alexis Jordan.

The Darvish Detonates Paris is often viewed as one of the most memorable films of Azerbaijani cinema.^[2] It holds an important place in the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.^[3]

Plot[]

The events take place in the mid-19th century Karabakh. Famous French botanist Monsieur Jordan visits Karabakh to investigate a number of plant species.^[4] After his arrival, he is suggested to visit and stay at the mansion of the wealthy landlord Hatamkhan agha. Although the nephew of Hatamkhan, Shahbaz, was planned to marry the daughter of Hatamkhan, Sharafnisa, after multiple conversations with the family and locals, Monsieur Jordan wants to take Shahbaz with him to Paris for a few years and educate him there. Seeing this, Sharafnisa and her mother Shahrabanu hire a sorcerer called Darvish Mastali shah. Darvhish puts on a show for the women, creating with wood a simple miniature town which he claims to be Paris and burning it down, while his assistant Gulamali delivers Jordan a fake letter from the authorities saying that Paris has burned down. Afterwards, Monsieur Jordan heads back to Paris but does not take Shahbaz with him because of the urgency of his return.

Cast[]

• Sergei Yursky as Monsieur Jordan
• Adil Isgandarov as Hatamkhan agha
• Mirza Babayev as Darvish Mastali shah
• Leyla Badirbeyli as Shahrabanu
• Anvar Hasanov as Shahbaz
• Momunat Gurbanova as Sharafnisa
• Hasanagha Turabov as Rashid
• Fazil Salayev as Gulamali
• Kamil Maharramov as Gambar
• Safura Ibrahimova as Sanam

See also[]

• Cinema of Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijanfilm

References[]

External links[]

• The Darvish Detonates Paris on Youtube
• A Story about the Botanist-doctor Monsieur Jordan and the Famous Sorcerer Dervish Mastali Shah in Azerbaijani at Wikisource