Immortal Fortress: A Look Inside Chechnya's Warrior Culture

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.

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[ZULUboi28]

all the hatred amongst the comments. I wish that one day Russia would recognise the Chechen people's rights to have thier own land and religion and who knows, if humans are all still around in 1000 years time, maybe muslims, christians and jews will all realise that they worship the same God and are all human beings.

[mashinuugnali]

@99681655 it would change absolutely nothing, Georgians are christians and it won't stop kremlin from attacking them if they get the chance

[shalomyo]

@BENNYSIEGEL90

honestly get fucking over it, dagestan used to fight aswell somehow they got over it and made friends

50 million people got slaughtered in WW II only 60 years ago and now we are all friends while chechens had a war over 100 years ago and they still remember it like it was yesterday

[BENNYSIEGEL90]

@shalomyo

You do know that it was just not the reds who terrorized them, right. Denikin also burn down a lot of villages in Chechnya back in the day. This only excites the russians how ever when any normal human being would be disgusted by it.

[mishkamaka]

@ZULUboi28 here here! very well said. Freedom to all, and the end of war. peace for all humans on earth. xx

[xSpArTiChRiSx]

Fuck religion.

[78389]

@ZULUboi28 Hopefully in 1000 years time religion will be taught in history

[comets00]

islam is the most HATED so called religion in the world, and i can see why

[mashinuugnali]

@mrssylviabeard good tactic when the weak sits in a tank

[99681655]

i believe if chechen convert to christian everything would be ok)

[shalomyo]

russians and chechens fight each other like crazy barbarians both been hardened by the soviet era