ULBOLSYN
Adilkhan Yerzhanov
Short Brothers (Kazakhstan), Arizona Productions (France), fiction
Ulbolsyn hangs out with rich men. Her little sister Azhar is kidnapped by a regional mayor’s brother for marital purposes. Ulbolsyn in anger comes to the village to take Azhar back with her.
ULBOLSYN lives in the city, hanging out with rich men. Her little sister AZHAR is a decent girl, who is going to enroll at a university. Ulbolsyn loves her and tries to collect money for her education. However a regional mayor’s brother has kidnapped Azhar for marital purposes and taken her away to his village. Everything is complied with patriarchal laws in the village: Azhar’s father agrees to the wedding. All the relatives are on mayor’s side because he controls everything in the region. Ulbolsyn in anger comes to the village with a police to take Azhar with her. It becomes more clear that Ulbolsyn’s love to Azhar is something more than a sister’s love or even mother’s love. Ulbolsyn is alone against patriarchal world. Even her little sister starts to change her mind by relatives’ influence. She chooses traditions. Ulbolsyn steals Azhar against her will and rides to unknown destination with hope to become free. Free to love her Azhar. Will Azhar accept and share this desire?
Adilkhan Yerzhanov / IMDb
ADILKHAN YERZHANOV, a film director and scriptwriter, was born in Djezkazgan city, Kazakhstan, on the 7 August 1982. In 2009 he graduated from the Kazakh National Academy of Arts, as a film director. Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s recent film, YELLOW CAT, has been selected for the 77th Venice IFF Orizzonti Competition, he is a two-time participant of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Program (THE OWNERS, 2014, and THE GENTLE INDIFFERENCE OF THE WORLD, 2018, Un Certain Regard Section). Winner of Asia Pacific Screen Awards-2019 (often referred to as Asian Oscars) for Achievement in Directing for A DARK, DARK MAN film. Member of the EFA (European Film Academy). Member of the APSA Academy.THE OWNERS and THE GENTLE INDIFFERENCE OF THE WORLD films have been nominated for APSA awards (Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Achievement in Cinematography). All his films have been screened and awarded at many international film festivals. THE OWNERS film was included in the 100 Best Asian Films catalogue, published in 2015 by the Busan International Film Festival. The Atelier Cinefondation participant, within the Cannes Film Festival-2014. The Berlinale Talents participant, within the Berlin International Film Festival-2014. The Open Doors participant, within the Locarno Film Festival-2010.
Director’s statement
THE MAIN IDEA - There is a patriarchal world in East full of traditions and obedience. Ulbolsyn always stepped out of the line. She is an embodiment of rebellion and hunger for freedom. Her fight for her little sister’s freedom takes form of Sisyphus’ doomed fight with the rock, because men rule in East and their principles are always more important than woman’s voice. But power of reason must defeat traditions. This is the basic idea.
GENRE - Some kind of Asian Thelma & Louise, in which an escape from traditions happens in a Kazakh remote village.
Where are we at?
Total budget: 250.000,00 EUR
Financing in place: 200.000,00 EUR
Sales agent: none
Territories available: World except CIS/Russia
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Sales agents, distributors, film festivals, funds or services for film completion especially color grading and music.
Production Company profile
SHORT BROTHERS LLC., film production company, founded in 2004 by Serik Abishev and Adilkhan Yerzhanov. Production and International promotion of all short and full-length feature films & one documentary by Adilkhan Yerzhanov. ULBOLSYN, post-production. YELLOW CAT (Kazakhstan-France) – 2020. World premiere to be held at the 77th Venice IFF / Orizzonti Competition.
A DARK, DARK MAN (KAZAKHSTAN-FRANCE) — 2019, world premiered at San-Sebastian IFF, Winner of Asia Pacific Screen Awards-2019 (often referred to as Asian Oscars) for Achievement in Directing
ATBAI’S FIGHT – 2019, world-premiered at the Warsaw International Film Festival
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