Father's testament (film)

A young guy, Azat, arrives in Bishkek , who lived in exile in the USA for 15 years with his parents. He comes to his native village to pay off the debts of a deceased one year ago in the states of Murat’s father, who owed his fellow villagers many years ago. Arriving, he learns that his home and household are abandoned, and the younger brother of Murat Choro and close relatives have long left the village. Despite the inhospitable welcome of his fellow villagers, Azat begins to repair an abandoned house, paying off his father's debts. But one day Choro appears, having served in prison because of Murat. This meeting reveals the truth: what the deceased father actually bequeathed to his son.

• Azat - Iman Mukul
• Beck - Marat Alyshpaev
• Kasen - Taalai Kasymaliev
• Choro - Bakyt Mukul
• Joki - Amantur Abdysalam Uulu
• Aisalkyn - Tynara Abdrazaeva
• Ayperi - Diana Sabyrbekova
• Aisuluu - Umsunai Imankulova
• Aktan - Өmүrzhan Toktorgaziev
• Moldo - Tabildy Aktanov
• Aliya - Rakhat Aksultanova
• Girl - Ryskul Orozova
• Nurai - Dilshad Abdyzhaparov
• Uranus - Nurbek Musaev
• Yryskan - Zhangyl Chyngysheva
• Sarykyz - Aisanat Edigeeva
• Child - Alia Kubanychbekova
• Sadyk - Nasirdin Dubashev
• Horseman - Davlet Nurgaziev
• The woman in the apartment - Ainura Omuralieva
• An old woman in the entrance - Duria Nooruzbaeva
• Electrician - Teңizbek Abylov

• Stage Directors - Bakyt Mukul, Dastan Japar uulu
• Script writers - Dastan Japar uulu, Bakyt Mukul
• Producers - Gulmira Kerimova, Talantbek Tolobekov, Ermek Mukul
• Honorable producers - Zeyne Kasmankulova, Ainagul Tokabaeva, Chinara Kamchybekova
• Associate Producers - Brett Sayson, Nika Zholdosheva
• Director of photography - Akzhol Bekbolotov
• Production Designer - Urmat Osmoev
• Installation - Aktan Ryskeldiev
• Sound engineers - Kerimbek Omurkodzhoyev, Nurkiz Tungatarova, Nurlan Razakulov, Nurlan Kamchybekov
• Costume Designer - Urmat Osmoev
• Makeup artist - Burul Asylbekova
• Second Director - Tursun Usenov
• Operator - Zhandos Zholdoshov
• Editor-in-Chief - Talip Ibraimov

Background

The idea of ​​the film belongs to Dastan Japar uulu. He told the first drafts of the storyline to Bakyt Mukul. In turn, after listening to everything, Bakyt remained in doubt, as there were few plot actions. For two days they discussed the future scenario. On the third day, Dastan said that the main character should bring the ashes of his late father. Bakyt froze for a second and said “That's it! Now everything is in place in the storyline, there is no other need. ”

Script

The script was written together by Dastan Japar uulu and Bakyt Mukul. It took about three months from the design of the script to its completion. Without their own office, they worked on the script for two months on Erkindik Boulevard. On hot summer days, they wandered from one bench to another, where the shadow of the trees fell. When all the episodes were written on paper, they typed the final version of the script on the computer.

Shooting

Filming began on December 11, 2015, and ended on January 15, 2016. As planned by the film crew, the film was supposed to be shot in the fall. But due to financial difficulties, the shooting schedule was delayed. Only in November, financial issues were resolved and the group continued to work. In December, a large amount of snow fell throughout Kyrgyzstan. The creative group had a question: either shoot this year in winter or postpone filming until next fall. The film crew worked tirelessly. We found places in the Issyk-Kul region where there is little rainfall and decided to go on set. The shooting took place in the Issyk-Kul region, in the villages of Tosor, Chon-Dzhargylchak, Ton, in the city of Balykchi, and city shooting took place in the city of Bishkek. It was cold in winter and the crew had to deal with rainfall. Actors had to act in light clothes since it was necessary to portray late autumn. In this regard, no problems arose with any actor, everyone coped with their tasks perfectly well. Local residents actively helped the film crew, they also took part in mass scenes and starred in episodes.

Budget

The budget for the film was about $ 80,000. According to the results of the scenario competition, the Department of Cinematography under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic allocated half the budget. Half of the budget was found by the Elfilm Studio studio from various sponsors.

• 2016 - Montreal World Film Festival, Grand Prize - Golden Zenith Grand Prix for the best debut film. Montreal , Canada .
• 2016 - International Film Festival " Eurasia ", competition "Shaken Constellation". Tulpar Award for Best Central Asian Film. Alma-Ata , Kazakhstan .
• 2016 - Didor International Film Festival, Tajikistan Film Critics Prize - “For the relevance of the topic, the novelty of form and content, for humanism”. Dushanbe , Tajikistan .
• 2016 - The film “Testament of the Father” nominated from Kyrgyzstan for the Oscar film Academy of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Los Angeles , USA
• 2016 - International Film Festival “Asian World Film Festival”, Main Competition. Los Angeles , USA
• 2016 - Minsk International Film Festival " Listapad ", Main Competition. The film won 3 prizes. 1) Diploma from the international jury "For a modern look at traditions." 2) Special prize of the CIS Executive Committee “Cinema Without Borders” “For the development of cultural cooperation and the strengthening of friendship between peoples”. 3) Special prize of the Minsk city executive committee. Minsk , Belarus .
• 2017 - Bengaluru International Film Festival , ^[4] Grand Prix - Best Asian film. Bangalore , India .
• 2017 - International Bodhisattva Film Festival, Grand Prix - Golden Bodhisattva Award in the International Film Competition. Patna , India .
• 2017 - The film “Testament of the Father” became a nominee for the film award “Nika” in the nomination “ Best film of the CIS and Baltic countries ” of the Russian Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Moscow , Russia .
• 2017 - National Cinema Award “Ak Ilbirs” 1) Award "Best Film". 2) Award "Best Director". 3) Award "Best Screenplay". 4) Award "Best Operator". 5) Prize "Best Artist". 6) Award "Best Installation". 7) Award "Best Actor" (Iman Mukul). Bishkek , Kyrgyzstan .
• 2017 - Beijing International Film Festival. Debut Film Competition. Beijing , China .
• 2017 - International Fajr Film Festival . The main competition of Asian films. Tehran , Iran .
• 2017 - goEast International Film Festival. The main competition. Wiesbaden , Germany .
• 2017 - Cheboksary International Film Festival. Grand Prix “Anna” International Competition. Cheboksary , Russia.
• 2017 - International Film Festival in Durban . The main competition. The film won 3 prizes. Grand Prix - For Best Film, Prize for Best Director and Prize for Best Cinematography. Durban , South Africa .
• 2017 - Lucania International Film Festival. The main competition. The film won 3 prizes. Grand Prix - For Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay Award and FlexyMovies Award for Italian Distributors. Marconia , Italy .
• 2017 - International Film Festival "East & West". The main competition. Prize for Best Director. Orenburg , Russia.
• 2017 - Yakutsk International Film Festival. The main competition. Prize for the best cinematography. Yakutsk , Russia.
• 2017 - Cape Town International Film Market and Festival. The main competition. Cape Town , South Africa.
• 2017 - International Charity Film Festival “Radiant Angel”. The main competition. Prize for Best Debut Movie. Moscow, Russia.
• 2017 - Carthage Film Festival. Section Asian films. Carthage , Tunisia .
• 2017 - Asian Film Festival in Barcelona. The main competition. Cathay Pacific Award for Best Director. Barcelona , Spain .
• 2017 - International festival of military-patriotic film. The main competition. Special jury prize. Volokolamsk , Moscow, Russia.
• 2017 - The film "Testament of the Father" nominee for the APSA Award of the Asia-Pacific Film Prize in the nomination "Best Screenplay" of the Asia-Pacific Film Academy. Also, the authors of the script Dastan Japar uulu and Bakyt Mukul as nominees became members of the Asia-Pacific Film Academy. Brisbane , Australia .
• 2017 - International Bosphorus Film Festival. The main competition. Istanbul , Turkey .
• 2017 - Asian Film Festival "Jogja-Netpac" . The main competition. Jakarta , Indonesia .
• 2017 - International Film Festival “17 Moments” named after V. Tikhonov. The main competition. Special Prize Press. Moscow, Russia.
• 2018 - Golden Triangle International Film Festival. The main competition. Grand Prix - The best feature film. Bhubaneswar , India .
• 2018 - International Film Forum “Golden Knight” . The main competition of feature films. Prize "Silver Knight". Russia
• 2018 - SCO Film Festival. The main competition. Qingdao , China .

"Testament of the father" even before reaching the wide screens received a lot of reviews. Most opinions were positive. Commendable reviews from well-known foreign film critics prevailed. For example, in her review, the Kazakh film expert and film critic Gulnara Abikeeva noted that the picture turned out to be powerful and iconic:

... The Kyrgyz film "Testament of the father" of debutants directors Bakyt Mukul and Dastan Japar uulu. The duet gave an amazing result: the picture was powerful, iconic and important - not only in the artistic, but also in the historical and social plan.

- Gulnara Abikeeva

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Kyrgyz film critic and film critic Gulbara Tolomusheva noted in the picture the raised acute social problem of migrants:

... Many compatriots who left Kyrgyzstan in different years, sooner or later think about where they will be buried. Some people have a desire - to find the last refuge in their homeland. This topic is plot-forming in the film "Testament of the Father."

- Gulbara Tolomusheva

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The chief editor of the Kyrgyzfilm National Film Studio, the famous playwright and screenwriter Talip Ibraimov, reading the script of the film, noted:

... It seems that this scenario touches on an extremely important topic. The theme of the dispersion of the Kyrgyz throughout the planet. Kyrgyz today live in America, Russia, Canada, Italy and many other countries, are used to a comfortable life and many do not intend to return. For a small nation, this is the beginning of the tragedy of extinction. Are we aware of this? The authors of the future film pose this question to the audience and it is impossible to consider it irrelevant, unpatriotic.

- Talip Ibraimov

During post-production, Talip Ibraimov, before leaving his life, watched the working version of the film shed a tear and noted that the film was a discovery for him.