If all you've ever known about Kazakhstan is through Borat's 'cultured learnings', Tulpan offers somewhat of a sandstorm in a newly opened eye.
Critically acclaimed for bringing the little-seen life on the Kazakh steppes to our screens, Tulpan introduces us to Asa, recently returned from the navy and on the lookout for a wife. Being where many might consider the middle of nowhere, there is really only one woman on offer for Asa, but she spurns him for his big ears.
With no wife prospects, Asa sees no life prospects and he struggles to win her affections. We never actually see Tulpan, the object of his yearnings, but the documentary style makes Asa's predicament real and his home life engaging.
Tulpan is not quite Hollywood in the sense of its gentle pace and hand-held, dusty vision of life in the post-Soviet desert. A real time scene of the delivery of a lamb in a howling desert gale is already an immortal cinema moment.
"Highly acclaimed at festivals, Tulpan is wondrous and fascinating, with a gritty, true-to-hard-life tone," wrote Andrew L Urban of Urban Cinefiles.
Tulpan screens this Friday 18th September at 7.30pm at Reardon Theatre in Bank Street. Memberships available at the door with free tea and coffee provided.
Click below to watch trailer:
