The First Teacher

The First Teacher 1965

5.60

Dyuishen is assigned to the mountainous Kirghiz region of Central Asia by the Young Communist League after he is discharged from the Red Army. It is 1923 and the Civil war has ended. The former soldier becomes a teacher, bringing the Leninist doctrine to the remote Moslem area where elders did not allow children to go to school. He falls in love with one of his students, but the young woman is sold by her father to a wealthy chieftain. When the school is burned down, the majestic poplar trees that are a source of local pride are cut down to rebuild the new structure.

1965

Dzhamilya

Dzhamilya 1969

6.10

Based on the novel of the same name by Chinghiz Aitmatov. The action takes place during the days of World War II in one of the villages of Kyrgyzstan. The famous artist Seit recalls his childhood, his first unrequited love for Dzhamilya, the wife of his older brother, and the wounded front-line soldier Daniyar, whose songs taught to notice beauty... A poetic story about love, the secrets of creation, the national customs of the Kyrgyz people.

1969

Ambush

Ambush 1969

5.80

A Kirghiz adventure film combining documentary and fictional elements.

1969

The Fierce One

The Fierce One 1973

4.60

A boy raises a wolf cub, but when released into the wild, it returns to attack him.

1973

The Skies of Our Childhood

The Skies of Our Childhood 1966

6.79

Bakai is an old shepherd who lives in the country while his children have long grown accustomed to life in the city. When his youngest son pays him a visit, Bakai wants him to stay and help with the rigors of rural living.

1966

Heat

Heat 1963

4.00

An idealistic high school graduate goes to work on a state farm on the Kazakh steppe, only to clash with its authoritarian leader.

1963

White Mountains

White Mountains 1964

5.50

Mukash is chased by officials, learns of the devastation of war from a blind woman and helps her daughter to freedom beyond the river crossing, he, having to choose a tragic solution.

1964

Early Cranes

Early Cranes 1980

1

Sultanmurat is a 14 year old boy who lives in a small Kyrgyz village. All the men have gone off to war so he is left alone to tend to the horses who are weak with hunger.

1980

Fools Train

Fools Train 1989

1

Several passengers are rushing on a train to an unknown destination, each with their own problems.

1989

The Descent of the White Leopard

The Descent of the White Leopard 1984

7.50

The Russian Descendant of the Snow Leopard is based on a famous Kirghizian folktale. Apparently the Kirghizian folks had plenty of time to tell this story: to print a full synopsis would result in a novelette. Essentially, the story involves a proud group of highland hunters called the Snow Leopards, who in order to survive a brutal winter must request help from the Lowland people. The price for this assistance is the hand of the Snow Leopard's daughter, who is promised in marriage to a wealthy Lowland trader. During the Springtime wedding celebration, the trader becomes fascinated by a stranger who wins all the athletic contests. This "male" contestant turns out to be a woman, who has arrived to seek freedom for her imprisoned husband. The subsequent romance between the trader and the beautiful stranger results in disaster and bloodshed for both the Snow Leopards and the Lowlanders.

1984

Amateur

Amateur 1987

1

After a serious conflict with the editor of a local newspaper, journalist Temir Ataev began working as a teacher at a boarding school for children of shepherds. The first difficulties did not frighten Temir. Captivated by his new work, Ataev was able to win over the children, who were mostly from disadvantaged families, and restore order in the teaching staff.

1987

Plot

Plot 1989

1

Kalman, released from the colony under an amnesty, turns out to be the only one who comes to the aid of a woman whose child was kidnapped...

1989

The Red Apple

The Red Apple 1975

6.00

A chronicle of a few days in a small family, a story about the difficulties of human contacts, the complexity of love. The image of red apples - strong and clear, profound and lucid. Okeyev's "apple" bears a special meaning. Juices of the earth and sun, it is a lyrical symbol of happiness and harmony.

1975

Red Poppies of Issyk-Koul

Red Poppies of Issyk-Koul 1971

10.00

Directed by Bolotbek Shamshiyev, the movie shows Kyrgyzstan under early Soviet rule; and tells us about opium contrabanda across the border.

1971

Worship the Fire

Worship the Fire 1972

8.00

"Worship the Fire" is a 1972 feature by Tolomush Okeev.

1972

Gunshot at the Mountain Pass

Gunshot at the Mountain Pass 1968

6.20

About the Kirghiz aristocracy's attempt to battle the influx of Russian merchants in pre-Revolution days.

1968

Mother's Field

Mother's Field 1968

5.70

Tolongai was born and raised on Kyrgyz soil. Her husband and three children were killed in the second world war, but strength and courage have not abandoned her. The earth teaches Tolongai to fight and gives her strength to live on.

1968

Castles in the Sand

Castles in the Sand 1968

3.70

One of the highest achievements of the new wave of Kirghiz cinema, which emerged in the mid-1960s. This story of a boy building sandcastles on the shores of the Issyk-Kul Lake becomes a documentary parable on the tensions between an artist and society.

1968

Golden Autumn

Golden Autumn 1980

7.00

The forty-year-old commentator, summing up his life and realizing that his well-being is purely external and essentially nothing significant has been done, leaves for his native village, where, he hopes, he will be able to take a step towards his true vocation.

1980