Reason(s) for Discontinuation of 2007 Documentary Film

Factual Questions
1

Seems I might have a better chance here than in CS. Mods, please move if necessary.

Shadow of the Holy Book is a 2007 documentary film by Finnish director Arto Halonen, which explores the effects of foreign investment in Turkmenistan in the early 2000s and how those investors supported the dictator of the time, Saparmurat Niyazov, by translating his weird, self-aggrandizing “bible” Ruhnama. It seems to be unavailable for streaming or purchase (not even DVD) anywhere on the Surface Web, except for a shortened version dubbed in Catalan (on YouTube).

While I understand what the reasons for discontinuing this doc could have been, I wonder what they actually were. There also doesn’t seem to be any information or discussion out there that covers this. If it truly is available and I am mistaken, then I’d like to know that too. I haven’t seen the film and it’s slightly irritating to me when someone recommends one that sounds interesting and I can’t view it.

2

Unfortunately, I have no light to shed on this, as I’ve not ever heard of the film.

But, given that it sounds like it was completed (its IMDB entry indicates that it was shown at many film festivals), “discontinued” (which suggests that work on it was stopped before it was finished) may not be the right term for what happened to it. It sounds like “pulled from distribution” may be closer.

3

You are correct. Pulled from distribution would be much more accurate. Thanks for the correction.

4

Searching in Finnish, it looks like the director created a book that includes all of the original information plus additional.

It says that someone got TV rights for it in the US but probably it’s already had its run.

I’d venture to guess that the DVD run was fairly small. If I were you, I’d check library catalogues to see if any of them purchased a copy.

You could also try to track down the book. Your phone may be able to translate it for you, though it would be rather painful to read that way.

5

This seems to be the website for his production company, Art Films Production. There’s an email contact address given, and a couple of phone numbers.

6

Curious, I don’t see it in any libraries.

I’d try email Scarecrow Video in Seattle, they might know better how to track down a copy. It’s a former video rental store that specialized in obscure films, that got the city to fund turning itself into a public library for film after video rental died.

7

Oh, actually, you can buy a DVD from Finland, with English subtitles here:

Just search using the Finnish name.

8

Excellent. Nice work.