“Mukagali”

SAFF 2022 Award Winner

The fate of the POET, living in a totalitarian state with its society deprived of liberty, is quite tragic. Living in the conditions of total subjection when not only behavior but also thoughts are identical, the horror of totalitarianism is that even the souls of people with a rather prosperous destiny are broken by the regime. The main character is a talented poet; he cannot be like everyone else. For a poet, unfreedom is fatal. He has to choose between art and a comfortable life. A poet cannot adjust, he cannot write dictation, and cannot give up art. Along with this, personal tragedies come to him: the death of his daughter and the arrest of his son. In an agony of grief, he is haunted by the guilt. As a result, his life was short, but the legacy of his poetry is great!

Director Biography

Kazakh famous actor, film director, scriptwriter.
Born in 1955 in Narynkol, Almaty region. Graduated from Acting department of Kazakh State Conservatoire named after Kurmangazy in 1977 and directing department of Almaty State theatre Institute in 1989.
Member of the Filmmakers Union since 1984.
Got the award as an Honored Arts worker of Kazakhstan in 1998.
His filmography as an actor consists of more than 50 films.
He is a professor of Acting and Directing workshops at Art Academy named after T. Zhurgenov in Almaty.

FILMOGRAPHY as a director

1990 Ainalayin

1993 The last cold days - Torino International Film Festival of Young Cinema Special Jury prize and FIPRESCI Prize-Special Mention

2003 Sardar

2018Talan

2020 MUKAGALI

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