Stranger

In the early 1930s a wave of forced collectivization reaches toa a small Kazakh village at the foot of the mountains. After his father's death, a 9-year-old Elias suddenly disappears from the village. Years go by and we see matured Elias who now lives in a remote mountain cave. Occasionally he descends from the mountains to visit an old man Ibrai and Kamshat, who remains for him the love of his life. When the war starts and Elias refuses to go to the front, he becomes a traitor to all.

Ermek Tursunov became famous in 2008 with his first movie "Daughter in law" ("Kelin"), which was the opening film at the Toronto Film Festival and a short-listed candidate (among 9 names) for an Academy Award as the best foreign movie of 2009. The new movie by the director of "The Tramp" becomes a philosophical reflection about the nature of freedom and choice. At the same time the plot is also closely intertwined with biblical motifs: in front of us there is a real Messiah who comes to help liberate the people.

The world premiere of "The Tramp" was held successfully at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2015. The film will represent Kazakhstan at the Oscars in the category of "the best foreign film".

Igor Gouskov / PÖFF

Kazakhstan 2015