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One of the first Kazakh filmmakers, Shaken Aymanov entered the industry as a leading man following several years of experience working as an actor and director with the Kazakh Drama Theater in Alma-Ata during the '30s through the early '50s. Aymanov debuted as a film director in 1954 with Poema o Lyubvi/Poem of Love, which he co-directed with Karl Gakkel. It was Kazakhstan's first major feature film. While Aymanov's subsequent work encompassed several movie genres, Poema o Lyubvi is characterized by strong nationalistic sentiments and gentle humor.