SUTAK

A poetic work from the Kyrgyz mountains. A family of nomads, spanning three generations, braves the unpredictability of mother nature and resists the temptation to move to the city. A filmmaker's declaration of love to his homeland, as well as a cautionary tale on the destruction of nature and the loss of a people's traditions.

A family of nomads; the elderly shepherd Tabyldy, his wife Karachach, the couple's daughter-in-law Shayr and seven-year-old granddaughter Umsunai dwell high in the remote mountains of Kyrgyzstan where they herd horses. Shayr's son studies in the city and only comes to visit during the summer holidays, whilst her husband drowned in a mountain river many years ago. Afterwards, out of a sense of attachment to these natural surroundings, she remained with her deceased husband's family. Here time appears to have stood still; they live in harmony with nature and a sense of humility towards the myths and legends of their forefathers. A seemingly harmonious existence, were it not for Shayr taking a sudden liking for newcomer Ermek, an employee at the nearby meteorological office. Yet it's the appearance of heavy machinery on the horizon that ultimately represents an existence-threatening omen of change, with every piece of land lost akin to the family losing a part of its soul.

This reflective, poetic film, shot to an awe-inspiring backdrop, is a cautionary tale on the destruction of nature, a snapshot from a period in which a people's century-old traditions appear under threat and ultimately an ode to the director's homeland. SwS