Freddy's Cine It

Plot Summary: The film follows Asa, a young man returning from his Russian naval service to his sister’s nomadic family on the desolate Hunger Steppe of central Asia. Eager to start his own life as a shepherd, Asa must first win the hand of the only eligible girl in miles, his mysterious neighbor Tulpan. Director: Sergey Dvortsevoy Starring: Askhat Kuchinchirekov as Asa Samal Yeslyamova as Samal Ondasyn Besikbasov as Ondas Tulepbergen Baisakalov as Boni   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Realism and Raw Authenticity Today we are leaving Kazakhstan with the movie "Tulpan" by Sergey Dvortsevoy, who also directed our first movie of the week, " Ayka ." Let me tell you, right away, that this is an amazing, unbelievable film. If in yesterday's documentary, "The Eagle Huntress," I felt that I was watching something fictional, today was the opposite. Some scenes are so real that it look...

Plot Summary: The film follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she trains to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her family. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolian steppe, the documentary captures her journey to compete in the annual Golden Eagle Festival and her rise within this male-dominated tradition. Director: Otto Bell Starring: Aisholpan Nurgaiv as Herself Rys Nurgaiv as Himself Daisy Ridley as Narrator   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Mixed Feelings and Authenticity Concerns Ok, it seems I got a bit derailed on my trip to Kazakhstan, and today I ended up in Mongolia. But, we are following a Kazakh family that's been into eagle hunting for 12 generations. (I only know three generations before me in my family! Such white trash). Eagle hunting is amazing and unbelievable. But what's really unbelievable is this movie. Towards the mi...

Plot Summary: The film follows the lives of four adolescent boys in a rural village in mid-1990s Kazakhstan, each grappling with their own personal struggles and self-destructive behaviors. Set against a backdrop of socio-economic upheaval, the film portrays their search for purpose and direction in a bleak and challenging environment. Director: Emir Baigazin Screenplay: Emir Baigazin Starring: Nurlybek Saktaganov as Zharas Madiyar Aripbay as Chick Madiyar Nazarov as Toad Omar Adilov as Aslan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Visual Symbolism and Atmosphere Third day in Kazakhstan, and now we are in deep! As you must already know from the synopsis, we have four different stories that loosely connect in the end, or at least you know the four different pre-teen kids you're going to spend some boring time with come from the same remote village. And damn, shit looks really boring out there. Baigazin em...

Plot Summary: The film follows Sayan, a talented student and boxer in Almaty, Kazakhstan, during the post-Soviet 1990s. Drawn into the criminal underworld, Sayan rises through the ranks as an extortionist, facing tough decisions and moral dilemmas. The film portrays his journey through violence, betrayal, and the harsh realities of life in a lawless environment. Director: Akan Satayev Screenplay: Timur Zhaksylykov Starring: Sayat Isembayev as Sayan Murat Bisembin as Ruslan Zhan Baizhanbayev as Jan Saken Aminov as Aman   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions and Setting Second movie of the week, and now we are finally in Kazakhstan. This movie also starts with a newborn baby crying—what's up with that? My initial thoughts were that this felt like a Guy Ritchie-style film, but without the plot complexities. I'm a sucker for those stylish shots and quick montages that seamlessly transi...

Plot Summary: The film follows Ayka, a migrant worker in Moscow, who escapes from a hospital window shortly after giving birth. She is in dire need of money to repay her debts to criminals and struggles to find work and survive amidst the harsh winter conditions. The film is a raw and intimate portrayal of her fight for survival, emphasizing the physical and psychological toll of her circumstances. Director: Sergey Dvortsevoy Screenplay: Sergey Dvortsevoy, Gennadiy Ostrovskiy Starring: Samal Yeslyamova as Ayka Polina Severnaya as Hospital Administrator Andrey Kolyadov as Victor   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Harrowing Journey Begins We start our trip to Kazakhstan this week, in Russia... I had no idea what I was getting myself into when choosing to watch this movie from Kazakh director Sergei Dvortsevoy. Coincidentally, I became a father again a few days ago, and this movie opens in a maternity wa...