DIRECTOR: Askhat Kuchencherekov
STARRING: Yersultan Yerman, Aidos Auesbay, Bigaysha Salkyn
RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 49 minutes
LANGUAGE: Kazakh
Following an old nomadic tradition "bauryna salu," Yersultan was given at birth to his grandmother so that she could raise him. He grew up with resentment and disconnection with his parents. When he turns 12, his grandmother dies and he has to move back with the family he barely knows.
***
Bauryna Salu had its world premiere in the New Directors sidebar of San Sebastian in 2023. The film was the stand-out at Kazakhstan’s national film honors, the Tulpars, winning best film. This is director Askhat Kuchencherekov's debut feature. The director drew on his own experiences growing up with his grandparents under the Bauryna Salu tradition for the film, which gives a rare insight into rural life in Kazakhstan. Kuchinchirekov has worked as an assistant director to award-winning director Sergey Dvortsevoy, with also appearing as an actor in the latter’s films Tulpan (2008) and Ayka (2019). Ayka was shortlisted by The Academy.
The Kazakh Film Federation announced that Bauryna Salu would be their submission on September 23rd.
The film is produced by AskhatFilm, with the help of Kazakh Cinema.
Bauryna Salu is a drama and it was filmed in the Kuigan and Tuyyk villages in the Almaty Region, Kazakhstan.
To check out all previous submissions for Kazakhstan, click HERE.
STARRING: Yersultan Yerman, Aidos Auesbay, Bigaysha Salkyn
RUNNING TIME: 1 hr 49 minutes
LANGUAGE: Kazakh
Following an old nomadic tradition "bauryna salu," Yersultan was given at birth to his grandmother so that she could raise him. He grew up with resentment and disconnection with his parents. When he turns 12, his grandmother dies and he has to move back with the family he barely knows.
***
Bauryna Salu had its world premiere in the New Directors sidebar of San Sebastian in 2023. The film was the stand-out at Kazakhstan’s national film honors, the Tulpars, winning best film. This is director Askhat Kuchencherekov's debut feature. The director drew on his own experiences growing up with his grandparents under the Bauryna Salu tradition for the film, which gives a rare insight into rural life in Kazakhstan. Kuchinchirekov has worked as an assistant director to award-winning director Sergey Dvortsevoy, with also appearing as an actor in the latter’s films Tulpan (2008) and Ayka (2019). Ayka was shortlisted by The Academy.
The Kazakh Film Federation announced that Bauryna Salu would be their submission on September 23rd.
The film is produced by AskhatFilm, with the help of Kazakh Cinema.
Bauryna Salu is a drama and it was filmed in the Kuigan and Tuyyk villages in the Almaty Region, Kazakhstan.
To check out all previous submissions for Kazakhstan, click HERE.
FILM REVIEW:
(This review contains spoilers.)
“May everything go well for you in your new home.”
Bauryna Salu, the directorial debut of Kazakh filmmaker Ashkat Kuchinchirekov, is a deeply moving and visually stunning exploration of tradition, family, and identity. Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Kuchinchirekov presents a sensitive portrayal of 12-year-old Yersultan, a boy raised by his grandmother in a rural Kazakh village, who is forced to return to his estranged parents after her death. The film captures the emotional complexities of Yersultan’s journey with remarkable nuance, offering both a poignant coming-of-age story and a subtle critique of the Kazakh tradition of bauryna salu, in which newborns are given to relatives to raise.
The film immerses the viewer in the harsh yet beautiful world of rural Kazakhstan. The cinematography is breathtaking, with long, patient shots that highlight the rugged landscapes and everyday life in the village. The contrast between the warm, earthy tones of Yersultan’s life with his grandmother and the cold, desolate blues of winter after her death serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the boy's emotional journey. Kuchinchirekov's decision to avoid romanticizing the rural setting lends the film an authenticity that enhances its emotional impact.
At the heart of Bauryna Salu is Yersultan's complex relationship with his family. The film masterfully explores the boy’s feelings of abandonment and isolation, particularly as he struggles to connect with his distant father and adjust to life with his younger sibling. Yersultan Yermanov, who plays the lead, delivers a performance of astounding depth, especially in the film’s most heartbreaking moments, such as the close-up of his grief-stricken face after his grandmother’s death. His subtle expressions convey a profound sense of loss and yearning, making it impossible not to empathize with his plight.
What sets Bauryna Salu apart is its delicate balance between ethnographic detail and universal themes. While the film offers a critical lens on the tradition of bauryna salu, it does so with sensitivity, never reducing the characters to mere symbols. Instead, Kuchinchirekov builds empathy for Yersultan and his family, portraying them as individuals caught between tradition and their personal struggles. This allows the film to resonate not only with Kazakh audiences but also with viewers worldwide, who can relate to the themes of loss, identity, and the desire for familial love.
Bauryna Salu is an impressive and emotionally resonant debut from a director with a unique voice. Kuchinchirekov’s thoughtful storytelling, combined with the film’s stunning visual composition and powerful performances, creates a deeply affecting cinematic experience. The film’s quiet strength lies in its ability to weave together the personal and the cultural, offering a rich, layered narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. Bauryna Salu is not just a story about one boy’s journey, it is a film that speaks to universal human experiences, making it a must-see for everyone.
(This review contains spoilers.)
“May everything go well for you in your new home.”
Bauryna Salu, the directorial debut of Kazakh filmmaker Ashkat Kuchinchirekov, is a deeply moving and visually stunning exploration of tradition, family, and identity. Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Kuchinchirekov presents a sensitive portrayal of 12-year-old Yersultan, a boy raised by his grandmother in a rural Kazakh village, who is forced to return to his estranged parents after her death. The film captures the emotional complexities of Yersultan’s journey with remarkable nuance, offering both a poignant coming-of-age story and a subtle critique of the Kazakh tradition of bauryna salu, in which newborns are given to relatives to raise.
The film immerses the viewer in the harsh yet beautiful world of rural Kazakhstan. The cinematography is breathtaking, with long, patient shots that highlight the rugged landscapes and everyday life in the village. The contrast between the warm, earthy tones of Yersultan’s life with his grandmother and the cold, desolate blues of winter after her death serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the boy's emotional journey. Kuchinchirekov's decision to avoid romanticizing the rural setting lends the film an authenticity that enhances its emotional impact.
At the heart of Bauryna Salu is Yersultan's complex relationship with his family. The film masterfully explores the boy’s feelings of abandonment and isolation, particularly as he struggles to connect with his distant father and adjust to life with his younger sibling. Yersultan Yermanov, who plays the lead, delivers a performance of astounding depth, especially in the film’s most heartbreaking moments, such as the close-up of his grief-stricken face after his grandmother’s death. His subtle expressions convey a profound sense of loss and yearning, making it impossible not to empathize with his plight.
What sets Bauryna Salu apart is its delicate balance between ethnographic detail and universal themes. While the film offers a critical lens on the tradition of bauryna salu, it does so with sensitivity, never reducing the characters to mere symbols. Instead, Kuchinchirekov builds empathy for Yersultan and his family, portraying them as individuals caught between tradition and their personal struggles. This allows the film to resonate not only with Kazakh audiences but also with viewers worldwide, who can relate to the themes of loss, identity, and the desire for familial love.
Bauryna Salu is an impressive and emotionally resonant debut from a director with a unique voice. Kuchinchirekov’s thoughtful storytelling, combined with the film’s stunning visual composition and powerful performances, creates a deeply affecting cinematic experience. The film’s quiet strength lies in its ability to weave together the personal and the cultural, offering a rich, layered narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. Bauryna Salu is not just a story about one boy’s journey, it is a film that speaks to universal human experiences, making it a must-see for everyone.
