The Needle

Especially for her exhibition 18,000 Worlds, Saodat Ismailova selected films that provide an impression of the unfortunately unknown, yet exceptional cinematic history of Central Asia. For many years, filmmakers had to tow the line with Soviet ideology. Within these constraints, they developed their own way of portraying their countries, stories and culture. This created a unique cinematic legacy, the majority of which has never been seen outside the former Soviet Union. This film programme is an ode to the inspiring filmmakers from the region who, despite all the challenges, always continued to make films.

Saodat Ismailova about The Needle: “This iconic Central Asian film features the rock star Viktor Tsjoi, who died very young. The Needle is an exponent of the Kazakh New Wave, that emerged during Perestroika. Suddenly, there was artistic freedom: everything that had been banned, flourished. This period has been forgotten, but the film has a unique, free style characteristic of the early 1990s in that part of the region”.

Check out the exhibition page for the other audience programmes accompanying the exhibition and the screenings of Central Asian films. Films specially selected for 18,000 Worlds can also be viewed on the Eye Film Player.