Uroki garmonii
Emir Baigazin / KZ, DE, FR, 2013 / 120 min.
Harmony Lessons paints a portrait of the tough life at a secluded secondary school using elements of magical realism. ‘Himalaya meets Hitchcock’ in this psychological revenge thriller situated deep in the steppes of Kazakhstan. Winner of the Silver Bear (Best Camera) award of the Berlin film festival.
In this original blend of revenge thriller and magical-realist rite of passage, a sensitive schoolboy has to stand up against a bully with gangster connections. Darwinism rules supreme in the steppes of Kazakhstan, where it is either kill or be killed.
Avoiding the trap of exotism, the debuting director shows the emotional world of a teenager after the collapse of the Soviet Union in a film charged with symbolical meaning. The striking cinematography is reminiscent of Bresson and the best of Japanese film noir. The mysterious and charismatic lead actor Timur Aidarbekov, who was discovered in an orphanage, especially stands out among the non-professional adolescent cast.
Details
Director
Emir Baigazin
Production year
2013
Country
KZ, DE, FR
Original title
Uroki garmonii
Length
120 min.
Subtitles
ENG
Format
DCP - encrypted
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