# Reason(s) for Discontinuation of 2007 Documentary Film **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Tags:** documentary-bio\ **Created:** [June 11, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747 "2024-06-11T17:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/1 "2024-06-11T17:25:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/2 "2024-06-11T17:32:10Z")
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](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139618/) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/3 "2024-06-11T17:34:49Z")
You are correct. Pulled from distribution would be much more accurate. Thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/4 "2024-06-11T17:48:15Z")
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. > **[Pyhän kirjan varjo](https://like.fi/kirjat/pyhan-kirjan-varjo/)** > > Dokumentintekijöiden huikea tutkimusmatka diktatuurin ytimeen kyseenalaistaa suuryritysten etiikan. Dokumentin tekijät Arto Halonen ja Kevin Frazier jäljittivät kansainvälisten suuryritysten kuten Gazpromin, General Electricin ja Caterpillarin toimia... 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. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/5 "2024-06-11T17:55:02Z")
This seems to be the website for his production company, [Art Films Production.](https://artfilmsproduction.com/en/) There’s an email contact address given, and a couple of phone numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/6 "2024-06-11T17:57:01Z")
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. > **[Welcome to Scarecrow and Our Legendary Video Library | Scarecrow Video](https://scarecrowvideo.org/)** > > Scarecrow Video houses one of the largest and most diverse video collections in the world. We are proud to be a member-supported, nonprofit, cultural museum and accessible film arts archive that is open to all. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/7 "2024-06-11T17:58:44Z")
Oh, actually, you can buy a DVD from Finland, with English subtitles here: > **[Pyhän kirjan varjo (2007) (DVD)](https://www.videodivari.fi/en/document/40841-Pyhan-kirjan-varjo-2007-6438044174755.html)** > > Price: EUR 6.9 Just search using the Finnish name. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-s-for-discontinuation-of-2007-documentary-film/1002747/8 "2024-06-12T19:11:03Z")
Excellent. Nice work.