Centaur

Panorama 2017

There’s a horse thief at large on the outskirts of Bishkek high up in the mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Otherwise not a lot happens in this small community that does at least boast a cinema. This is where stories of the war in Afghanistan, Bollywood fairy-tales from India or films by ex-Soviet director Tolomush Okeyev open up a window on the world. This is also where projectionist and horse thief Centaur lives with his deaf wife and young son. Theirs is a simple life and yet one that increasingly seems to fall foul of the jealously and intrigues of others. Centaur believes that the people of Kyrgyzstan themselves descend from centaurs, mythological half-human half-horse creatures, and that horses are, as he says, ‘the wings of humankind’. Unfolding in contemplative images, Kyrgyz director Aktan Arym Kubat’s film is an allegorical tale of humans, animals and nature trying to live together whilst caught between faith and superstition, modernity and tradition. As in his award-winning film The Light Thief Aktan Arym Kubat himself once again plays the leading role.

by Aktan Arym Kubat
with Aktan Arym Kubat, Nuraly Tursunkojoev, Zarema Asanalieva, Taalaikan Abazova, Ilim Kalmuratov, Bolot Tentimyshov, Maksat Mamyrkanov Kyrgyzstan / France / Germany / Netherlands 2017 Kirghiz 89’ Colour

With

Aktan Arym Kubat (Centaur)
Nuraly Tursunkojoev (Nurberdi)
Zarema Asanalieva (Maripa)
Taalaikan Abazova (Sharapat)
Ilim Kalmuratov (Sadyr)
Bolot Tentimyshov (Karabay)
Maksat Mamyrkanov (Teit)

Crew

Director	Aktan Arym Kubat
Screenplay	Aktan Arym Kubat, Ernest Abdyjaparov
Cinematography	Khassan Kydyraliev
Editing	Petar Markovic
Music	Andre Matthias
Sound Design	Manuel Laval
Sound	Gerben Kokmeijer
Production Design	Adis Seitaliev
Costumes	Inara Abdieva
Producers	Altynai Koichumanova, Cedomir Kolar, Thanassis Karathanos, Marc Baschet, Denis Vaslin
Co-Producers	Martin Hampel, Danis Tanovic, Yûji Sadai, Fleur Knopperts, Gulmira Kerimova
Co-Production	Kyrgyzfilm Studio Bishkek Bitters End

World Sales

The Match Factory

http://www.the-match-factory.com http://www.the-match-factory.com

Produced by

Oy Art

ASAP Films

http://www.asapfilms.com http://www.asapfilms.com

Pallas Film

http://www.pallasfilm.de/ http://www.pallasfilm.de/

Volya Films

Photos

Aktan Arym Kubat

Born in Kyrgyzstan in 1957, he is also known as Aktan Abdykalykov. After graduating from the Art Academy in Bishkek he first worked as a production designer and directed several short films before making his feature debut in 1998 with Beshkempir (The Adopted Son). The film won several prizes including the Silver Leopard at Locarno. Maimyl (The Chimp) and Svet-Ake (The Light Thief) screened at international festivals including Cannes and won numerous awards. Centaur is his sixth feature-length film.

Filmography

1992 Gde Tvoy Dom, Ulitka? (Where Is Your House, Snail?) 1993 Sel'kincek (The Swing) 1998 Beshkempir (The Adopted Son) 2001 Maimyl (The Chimp) 2009 Ray Dlya Mamy (Mothers Heaven) 2010 Svet-Ake (The Light Thief) 2017 Centaur

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017