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

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

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

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

Mirages of Love

Mirages of Love 1987

7.00

"Mirages of Love" is a Soviet-Syrian film directed by Tolomush Okeyev about the fate of Mani, a medieval oriental master.

1987

Worship the Fire

Worship the Fire 1972

8.00

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

1972

Ambush

Ambush 1969

5.80

A Kirghiz adventure film combining documentary and fictional elements.

1969

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

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

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

The Skies of Our Childhood

The Skies of Our Childhood 1966

7.10

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

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

Aylanpa – World in a Vortex

Aylanpa – World in a Vortex 1989

1

Just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, perestroika gave Chinghiz Aitmatov the opportunity to reflect on the goals and ideals of socialism and how it itself had denied them. In this essayistic film, starting with his personal life story (his father was shot as an enemy of the state, he himself was a highly respected student and artist in the Soviet Union) and the history of the Kyrgyz people (bearers of a vibrant and distinctive culture destroyed by socialism), he eventually arrives at big questions about the goal of human progress and the fate of humanity in the 21st century. "What will life be like for people in the 21st century?" he asks, not least in view of looming ecological catastrophes, and answers: That is the sole responsibility of humanity. Long difficult to find, the film has now been uploaded to YouTube in a restored 4K version by Kyrgyzfilm.

1989

The Descent of the White Leopard

The Descent of the White Leopard 1984

7.00

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

The Girl from Tyan-Shan

The Girl from Tyan-Shan 1960

1

A love story of young Altynay and young Asake. Having graduated from the college, Altynay returns to his native collective farm in the Tyan-Shan highlands. Lovers are going to get married. Ashirbay, Asake’s father, is planning a wedding as soon as his son heads the collective farm. But unexpectedly, Altynay is elected as chairman. The girl, contrary to the ancient customs of the highlands, vigorously takes up business. She does a lot of good deeds within a short period of time. Everyone began to respect the young chairman. Only Ashirbay harbors a grudge. And once, when in a blizzard he overtook a flock of sheep, he decided to lead the sheep to the abyss. Asake, accompanying his father, saves the collective farm flocks of sheep, and he perishes...

1960

The Shepherd

The Shepherd 1966

6.00

Tien-Shan, 1966. For the first time in 13 years, winter duration is six months. Sheep in the mountains are hungry for grass on the sunny slopes. The state is taking urgent measures to save hundreds of thousands of wintering animals. But still...

1966

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