E-Paper
MY BROTHER SILK ROAD
Four children step onto a train, leaving their mountain village behind, hoping their journey will help them start a new life
MY BROTHER SILK ROAD
Original Title: AltyhKyrghol
Kyrgyzstan, 2002
Director: Marat Sarulu
A train crosses the Kyrgyz Steppes on the former silk route. Four children have left their mountain village and reached the railway track where they dream of going on a journey that will take them far away.
A long journey such as this one allows for people’s destinies to cross: the compartment hostess, her first love who is also her former husband, her daughter, a couple in love, a prostitute, a painter portraying the passengers and a gang of rascals who beat up the painter and throw him out of the train.
This is when the children meet him. The eldest child soon understands that this is the turning point in his life and he requests the painter to let him accompany him, leaving his friends behind.
Screenplay:
Marat Sarulu
Cinematography:
Kadirjan Kidiraliev
Editing:
Tylek Mambetova
Music:
Baktybek Alisherov
Principal cast:
Busurman Odurakaev, Tinar Abdrazaeva, Mukhambet Toktay, Kabatai Kyzi Elm, Urmat Samudunov, Japarkul Kyzy
Production: Firm Kino, Art Studio Kumai, Film Studio ‘Kyrgyzfilm’ / 35mm / b-w / 80 mins
Director's bio-note:
Marat Sarulu was born in 1957 in Kyrgyzstan. He studied cinema at VGIK, Moscow and began by collaborating with Aktan Abdykalykov on the script of The Adopted Son.
His first directorial venture was an animation film, Praying for the Virgin Bird (1989). My Brother Silk Road is his second feature.
