Adopted Son, The

A FILM BY Aktan Abdykalykov

... a gentle touching film...
-NEW YORK TIMES
This is a rare, poetic treat.
-NOW Magazine

Synopsis

There is a tradition in ancient Kyrgyzstan whereby parents of a large family offer their baby to a childless couple. In a time-honored ritual, five elderly women pass the baby over their bent knees and pronounce it "Beshkempir". Azate is one such baby. Now an adolescent, Azate shares a close and loving relationship with his family. He spends his free time joining the other village boys in their high spirited antics - wrestling in mud and spying on women in various states of undress. Becoming aware of his budding sexuality, Azate catches the eye of a girl he meets at the local outdoor film screening. Soon the two are hanging out together, taking long walks and discussing their hopes for the future. Life runs more or less smoothly for Azate until the day he finds out that he is adopted - a revelation that turns his world upside down. A breathtaking film, Adopted Son is a celebration of local and regional idiosyncrasies, and a look at the universal experiences of adolescence.

Original Languages: Kirghiz
Genre: Drama, World Cinema
Running Time: 81 min.
Year: 1998

CREDITS

CAST
Mirlan Abdykalykov
DIRECTED BY
Aktan Abdykalykov