Aktan Abdykalikov
 He
was born in the village of Kuntuu, Kyrgyzstan, in 1957. He studied
at KyrgyzstanÕs Art Institute and went on to work as a set designer.
He produced numerous short and feature films. His first feature film,
The Adopted Son, won the Silver Leopard direction award at the Locarno
Film Festival and also won four awards at the Angers Film Festival
1999. His second feature, The Chimp, won the FIPRESCI award at the
Bratislava Film Festival and the Jury Special Prize at the Festroia-Troia
Film Festival 2002.
ÒI donÕt know why I always bare my soul, nor why I feel the urge
to confess my secrets. Undoubtedly it is due to the fact that, every
day, we feel the lack of purity of the initial, original morality.
In todayÕs chaos itÕs difficult to define truth. The only thing one
is capable of is to attempt to be sincere and remain oneself. I am
not beautiful, and this fact was the origin of my spiritual development.
It goes without saying that it doesnÕt bother me, because appearance
is not what counts. In puberty, as the most acute of feelings, such
as love, are stirred within you, you yearn to be loved, and little
by little you understand that the Great One has deprived you of beauty.
So you try to be beautiful through thoughts and gestures.Ó
Aktan Abdykalikov, on the making of The Chimp
FILMOGRAPHY
1990 Bezala Sobaka (short film)
1993 Selkinchek (mid-length film)
1995-2000 Beket (short film)
1997 Assan-Ousson (short film)
1998 Beshkempir
2001 Maimyl
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Bezala Sobaka / THE DOG WAS RUNNING
Kyrgyzstan 1990
Direction: Aktan Abdykalikov. Screenplay:
Aktan Abdykalikov, Erkin Ryspaev. Cinematography:
Hasan Kydyraliev, Marlis Turatbekov. Editing: Tilek Mambetova.
Sound: Gauhar Sydykova. Production: Kyrgyzfilm
Studio. 35mm Color 20min
The fate of urban strays, wandering around,
looking for their puppies. There are different kinds of dogs:
dogs that win competitions, police dogs, circus dogs, fighting
dogs.
Unlike these privileged animals, the future of stray dogs is
grim; sooner or later they will end up under the wheels of a car
or caught
by the dog-catcher, or worse. The authors of the film believe
in human kindness towards our four-legged friends.
Selkinchek / SWING
Kyrgyzstan 1993
Direction: Aktan Abdykalikov. Screenplay: Aktan Abdykalikov,
Ernest Abdysaparov, Talgat Asyrankulov. Cinematography: Hasan Kydyraliev.
Editing: Hadicha Urmurzina. Sound: Sergei Lobanov. Sets: Talgat Asyrankulov.
Cast: Mirlan Abdykalykov, Bakyt Toktokojoev, Ainura Tolokabylova,
Taalaj Umetaliv, and the inhabitants
of Kok-Moinok. Producers: M. Abakirova, P. Eliferenko. Production: Maek.
35mm
B&W 48min
A sailor and a small boy fall in love with
the same girl. Against the backdrop of a life, an existence that
seems idyllic and a nature that seems to live with the characters,
the boy begins to learn about the adult world. A world that is not
solely made of pleasures. It is a world of suffering, in which one
discovers the existence of death, and in which one must learn to
live with jealousy. It will be the sailor who will succeed in pushing
the girl on the swing.
Beket / ÂÅÊÅÔ
Kyrgyzstan 1995-2000
Direction: Aktan Abdykalikov, Ernest Abdyshaparov. Screenplay:
Aktan Abdykalikov, Ernest Abdyshaparov. Cinematography: Hasan Kydyraliev.
Editing: Rosa Umuraliyeva. Sound: Bachyt Nijasalijev. Cast: Mirlan Abdykalykov,
Ernest Abdyshaparov, Taalajkan Abazova, Emil Ibragimov. Production:
Kyrgyzfilm Studio. 35mm B&W 22min
It is almost dark. A few people are waiting
for the bus at a stop in the middle of nowhere. It is winter, with
snow lying everywhere. They wait. Time stretches on through the fading
light and the biting cold. And then an intruder appears. Is he drunk?
He tries to get acquainted with a young lady but is chased off by
a man in a fur. The woman almost intervenes to protect him. The intruder
begins to cry. Everybody huddles around him protectively. There is
no sign of the bus.
Ássan-Usson / ASSAN-OUSSEN
Kyrgyzstan 1997
Direction-Screenplay: Aktan Abdykalikov. Cinematography:
Hasan Kydyraliev. Editing: Tilek Mambetova. Sound: Gauchar Sadykova.
Cast: Assan Jumabekov, Ussen Jumabekov. Production: Kyrgyzfilm
Studio. 35mm Color 7min
Under the scorching, bright sun, the twin brothers Assan and Ussen
march in line along a road, taking turns carrying a bucket of water.
Each brother counts the steps the other one takes. A quarrel breaks
out between the two and they grapple with one another. An old man
calms them down and shows them how to carry the bucket together.
The two boys thank him and go merrily on their way.
Beshkempir / THE ADOPTED SON
Kyrgyzstan - France 1998
Direction: Aktan Abdikalikov. Screenplay: Aktan Abdikalikov,
Avtandi Adikulov, Marat Sarulu. Cinematography: Hassan Kidiraliev.
Editing: Tilek Mambetova. Sound: Tilek Mambetova. Music:
Nurlan Nishanov. Cast: Mirlan Abdikalikov, Albina Imasheva, Adir Abilkassimov,
Bakit Dzhyllkychiev. Producers: Irizbao Allbaev, Cedomir, Kolar,
Marc Bashet, DrŽdŽrique Dumas. Production: NoŽ Productions.
35mm Color
81min
There is an ancient tradition in Kyrgyzstan,
whereby parents of a large family offer their baby to a childless
couple once the baby has been weaned. In a time-honoured ritual,
five old women pass the baby over their bent kness and name it ÒBeshkempirÓ
(which means: five old women). Abdykalikov uses this custom as the
starting point for his beatifully poignant tale of a young boy who
has been brought up as an adopted son. Azate is a young abdlescent,
living a happy life in his small village, frolicking in the mud with
his friends, enjoying a loving relationship with his parents and
grandmother, spending time with a girl he likes. Then, one day, Azate
is told that he is an adopted son, and suddenly his world is turned
upside down.
Maimil / THE CHIMP
France - Kyrgyzstan - Japan 2001
Direction: Aktan Abdykalikov. Screenplay: Aktan Abdykalikov,
Tonino Guerra, Aftandil Adykulov. Cinematography: Hasan Kydyraliev.
Editing: Tilek Mambetova, Natalia Vavilkina. Sound: Bakyt Niyazaliev,
Dominique Warnier. Music: Aleksandr Jurtaev. Cast: Mirlan
Abdylkalikov, Ajnagul Essenkoeva, Jylkychy Jakypov, Aleksandra Mitrohina, Sergei
Golovkin. Producers: Frederique Dumas, Marc Baschet, Cedomir Kolar.
Production: Noe Productions & Kyrgyzfilm Studio & Bitters
End. 35mm Color 97min
The life of young Chimp (called that because
of his ears) and that of his friends unfolds against the backdrop
of a desolate, restless little town, lost in an industrial area of
Kyrgyzstan. They pass their time fighting, partying, feeling bored
and having their first sexual experiences, while waiting to do their
military service. Chimp faces more problems than the others. His
father is a chronic alcoholic, and because of this, ChimpÕs mother
decides to leave home, together with her younger daughter. Through
a series of adventures, at times amusing, at times sad, and through
bold clashes with the reality of adult life, ChimpÕs indomitable
spirit begins to emerge. |
