STRISCH

As a teenager racked by an identity crisis, Ainur is going through the worst time of her life so far. She’s getting teased at school, and at home the arguments never seem to stop. She knows better than to expect attention from her heavily pregnant mother, who is too busy looking after Ainur’s permanently drunk stepfather. The distressed girl runs away from home, placing her hopes in her father. But he soon starts to find her a strain, and sends her back. Her only remaining confidante is Asel, her best friend. When Asel falsely accuses her of stealing, Ainur loses her last shreds of faith in the world. Feeling utterly forsaken, she wanders aimlessly through the city.

A coming-of-age story opening up a rare view of youngsters in the city of Almaty. Their generation has no awareness of the Soviet past, and going its own way as it seeks an identity.