KZBlog

Tulpan is supposed to be a wonderful film, very funny and clever about a young man who returns home from the Navy to try to become a “typical” Kazakh sheepherder and win the heart of a beautiful maiden. The official press release from Zeitgeist Films:

“Winner of the Prix Un Certain Regard at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, acclaimed Kazakh documentarian Sergey Dvortsevoy’s first narrative feature is a gorgeous mélange of tender comedy, ethnographic drama and wildlife extravaganza. Following his Russian naval service, young dreamer Asa returns to his sister’s nomadic brood on the desolate Hunger Steppe to begin a hardscrabble career as a shepherd. But before he can tend a flock of his own, Asa must win the hand of the only eligible bachelorette for miles—his alluringly mysterious neighbor Tulpan. Accompanied by his girlie mag-reading sidekick Boni (and a menagerie of adorable lambs, stampeding camels, mewling kittens and mischievous children), Asa will stop at nothing to prove he is a worthy husband and herder. In the tradition of such crowd-pleasing travelogues as The Story of the Weeping Camel, Tulpan’s gentle humor and stunning photography transport audiences to this singular, harshly beautiful region and its rapidly vanishing way of life.”

It will be playing at the Film Forum in New York City from 1 April to 4 April (Showtimes: 1:00, 3:15, 5:40, 7:50, 10:00).

So check it out and let me know how it is. We poor schmuks here in Kazakhstan have not had much chance to see it. But the reviews have been extremely positive the world around, so it’s likely worth seeing.

You can also check out other play dates across the US.
For more information, contact The Film Forum or Zeitgeist Films.