Note: A live Q&A discussion with film producer Dias Feld will follow the 7 PM show on Wednesday, September 17 at Laemmle Monica Film Center. Tickets are available here.
Viewers may also watch the film at four other Laemmle locations across Los Angeles (note that these showings do not have post-screening discussions): Newhall (Santa Clarita), Claremont 5, Town Center 5 (Encino), and Glendale.
Watch Trailer: https://youtu.be/li6T8j_dDMg?si=5ucLDb7iS5GFKreL
FILM SYNOPSIS
In Kazakhstan, the ancient nomadic tradition of "bauryna salu" dictates that firstborn children are given to their grandparents to be raised, far from their biological parents. Following this custom, Yersultan is sent to live with his grandmother from birth, growing up in her care while feeling increasingly abandoned by the parents who gave him away.
Though Yersultan forms a deep bond with his grandmother, he remains emotionally distant from his parents, struggling with feelings of resentment and disconnection. But at age 12, his world is shattered by the death of his grandmother, forcing him to leave the only home he's ever known and return to live with a family he barely recognizes as his own.
As Yersultan navigates this tumultuous transition, the film explores his journey of grief and isolation, set against the backdrop of a strained relationship with his father. Their emotional distance is palpable, and the struggle to reconcile seems insurmountable. Yet, through the pain of loss and the challenges of a fractured family, Yersultan embarks on a poignant journey of self-discovery, attempting to mend the broken ties with his father and find his place within a family he once felt so distant from.
This event is presented by WILLA Productions and co-sponsored by the UCLA Asia Pacific Center's Program on Central Asia.
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