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Festival Reports

Astana Report

Aditya Wednesday December 29, 2010

The 5th Eurasia International Film Festival (Sept 7-13 2008) was given a rebirth in the capital city of Astana, a glittering brand new city, instantly built from scratch, over five years, like a cross between the stately Canberra and the synthetic pomp of Las Vegas.

By the time the wonder of the iconic buildings fade (when you finally get over the fact that the Opening Ceremony takes place in a pyramid-shaped auditorium), you are left with a dedicated programme of Central Asian films, the first time that the festival made their regional cinema the focus of their main competition.

It makes a lot of sense considering that the birth of this region's national cinemas took place during the thaw of the Soviet 60s, then a rebirth at the end of the Soviet era in the 90s, so today, the region is ripe for another make-over.

This was particularly seen in the short film competition where the brave young works left you with many jaw-dropping moments. The rising star must surely be Adilkhan Erzhanov whose two films, Self Portrait and Bakhytzhamal, are an exercise in idiosyncratic filmmaking. Bakhytzhamal, which took the second prize of the Shorts Competition, is particularly powerful in throwing the viewer off-balance by the cranky antics of two friends. It is only later that you realize that one of them is a mental patient who wants to visit the home of his beloved 10 years later but cannot remember where to go. The emotion is surprising but deeply felt, and the shifting tones are a constant surprise.

Akjol Bekbolotov's Everything is OK did not win a prize (though it has won in other festivals) but shows the new sensibility of this generation of new wave directors. Here, the inner world of Krygyz street kids is shown graphically but the film has an unusually gentle heart, unlike most in-your-face street children films.

The NETPAC prize which looks at the main competition features as well as the Central Premieres section, went to second-time director, Daniyar Salamat's Together With Father. It is a simple tale of a young boy with his single-parent father. But the ironic observations of day-to-day urban life in Almaty make this an effective slow burn. From the father's wood-making students who unknowingly provide him extra income when he sells their works, to a bar-girl that he brings home to their one-room apartment, the distance and closeness between father and son are constantly challenged.

But the grand epics are still being made. Satybaldy Narymbetov's Mustafa Shokai, is a big budget biopic on the life of the legendary leader of the Turkic people, who wanted to create a new country called Turkestan. Hounded by the Soviets for his separatist vision, then later manipulated by the Nazis, Shokai maintained his independent spirit till the end. Narymbetov, who directed the famous Story of a Young Accordionist (1994) and recently, Steppe Express (2005), weaves Shokai's story with grand drama and poetic longing.

But if there is any sign that indeed, a new spirit is emerging from Central Asia, it was confirmed in the Opening Film, Sergei Dvortsevoi'sTulpan. Shot over three years by Russian documentarist, Dvortsevoi, this co-production marks his debut feature. About a family of sheep herders in the Steppes, the film pays close attention to the hardships of a very stark life, alleviated only by the romantic hopes of the shepherd's son. The documentary-styled cinematography brings to life the raw beauty and harshness of a poor shepherd's life and each scene is pure distilled drama.

Coupled with the young next-wave generation, it is clear that Central Asian cinema will be making many steppes (sic) forward.

 

Interview

Supriya Suri's Interview with Muhiddin Muzaffar

Director Muhiddin Muzaffar (1) 2 Min

1. I entered the cinema through the theatre. I was an actor in our local theatre called Kanibadam, named after Tuhfa Fozilova. After working for five years, I decided to do a theatre director course. I graduated with honors and became a director. We successfully staged performances at international festivals.

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