Nomads in Feature Films: The Kazakh Case (A Film Series)

Vsevolod Pudovkin, scenario Osip Brik.
January 27: White Sun of the Desert (1969).     Its blend of action, comedy, music and drama has made it a cult film in Soviet and Russian culture. Russian soldier Fyodor Sukhov is caught up in a desert fight between a Red Army cavalry unit and Basmachi guerrillas, and is chosen to guard the harem of a guerilla leader. Dir. Vladimir Motyl.
February 10: Urga, or Close to Eden (1991).     It depicts the friendship of a Russian truck driver and a Mongolian shepherd in Mongolia. Dir. Nikita Mikhalkov.
February 24: Nomad, the Warrior (2007).     It depicts Ablai Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan, as he grows and fights to defend his homeland. Screenplay Rustam Ibragimbekov, Producer Miloš Forman, dir. Ivan Passer, Sergei Bodrov and Talgat Temenov.
March 10: Oypyrmay, or My Dear Children (2009).     A Kazakh comedy, directed and written by Janna Isabaeva.
 All films have English subtitles and will be introduced and commented on by Alma Kunanbaeva.
This series is made possible with support from the Silk Road Foundation, the California Arts Council, and our community.