Saginayev asked whether the film had undergone censorship before its screening at the festival.
Deputy Minister of Culture Marat Tagaev responded that there is no censorship system in the country. "I have seen this film. It is the director's vision and a reflection of the reality we face. There are other films as well, and I am not familiar with the decision of the artistic council. Although the film sparks controversy, censorship should not be introduced," he emphasized.
The deputy clarified whether this means that films can be released without censorship checks. To this, Tagaev noted that only those aspects that contradict the law need to be observed. Saginayev reminded him of the presidential decree that prohibits the promotion of LGBT.
According to Tagaev, he did not see such violations in the film in question. "Cinema should provoke discussions and interest. We cannot limit ourselves to showing an idealized image of our people. This does not contribute to the development of the film industry," he added.
In response to Saginayev's question about whether he doubts the greatness of the people, Tagaev stated: "No, I have always considered our people to be great. I am talking about the film; we should not hinder the development of cinema due to censorship." He also suggested that the deputies watch the film together.
