| Bloodied and demoralized, Russian units withdrew from Chechnya in September 1996-a year and a half after it bludgeoned its way into the Chechen capital of Grozny. But the war is far from over. In fact, Chechnya's continuing conflict with Russia is a story that spans centuries. Award winning Immortal Fortress and its producer/director Dodge Billingsley take the viewer on a dangerous behind-the-scenes journey into Chechnya, exploring the tiny mountain republic's war driven culture while searching for its most popular modern warrior, Shamil Basayev. After centuries of blood feuds, battle traditions, and resistance to all foreign occupiers, the warrior cult defines Chechen society. Every Chechen man is first a warrior, then a farmer, baker or oil worker. Shamil Basayev personifies this warrior spirit. To Russia and the west he is considered a terrorist, but in Chechnya a hero. His battlefield exploits have become legendary. The surprise attack on the Russian city Budyonnovsk in 1995 and the invasion of western Dagestan in 1999 have brought him international attention. Immortal Fortress is a riveting look behind the scenes of one of the world's most controversial men, and answers the broader question of why Shamil Basayev and thousands of other Chechens fight. |
