Winterbottom cites that Murray’s memoir makes for funny and riveting reading, and mentions that the first seventy pages are largely devoted to stories about all the people Mr. Murray slept with while in St. Petersburg, Russia, before going off to Uzbekistan.
http://www.popcornreel.com/pearlheart.htm
Basically true, although that’s not all I did (or wrote about) in St Petersburg. Murder in Samarkand was written at 245,000 words and edited down by the publishers to 130,000 words. Michael is referring to the original manuscript. I hope the St Petersburg stuff will appear in the next volume.
I suppose the most interesting conundrums – considering Michael Winterbottom's reputation for authenticity and rigorous research – are where the film will be shot and who will play the Uzbek dramatis personae.
I'm guessing that the regime is unlikely to allow the film to be shot within its own borders and also that Uzbek nationals will be too scared to be visibly associated with the film.
NickW,
Yes, those are exactly the problems. We are looking at other bits of Central Asia. Quite a lot of the Uzbek artistic community is in exile, but it is indeed a problem.
So is this film going to be more like The Road to Guantanemo or Nine Songs??? I can hardly wait.
I think it's The Road to Guantanamo meets 9 Songs, in the style of 24 Hour Party People. Or something.