Le fils adoptif

Beshkempir is one of the resonable rare films which does not overfill you with a lot of pictures. The story is very simple - the growing up of a young boy in a rural part in Kirgistan - but it contains in a way the whole "meaning of life". The growing up from child to a young adult is shown in a tremendous poetic way

When the USSR dissolved, the separated countries struggled to find their own identities. Many of them failed to emerge victoriously from this struggle and vanished from the world of art and literature... Kyrgyzstan is in a different position. Kyrgyz filmmakers like Aktan Abdykalykov (also known as Aktan Arym Kubat), who were trying to find their own cinematic language after the USSR, created a Kyrgyz New Wave in the world of cinema. Yes, due to its location and economic strength, Kyrgyzstan does not have a very productive cinema, but they still make themselves known from time to time.

"Beshkempir," a coming-of-age story, tells its tale in a highly engaging language thanks to the tremendous success of its cinematographer, Khassan Kydyraliev.

For reasons unknown, Noé Production has not restored and re-released the films in its possession, and as a result, many films belonging to this production company, despite being magnificent cinematic works, remain underrated.

This movie is interesting primarily because it is a Kyrgyzstani film, and as such it offers a few interesting glimpses of Kyrgyz culture and rituals - particularly those around death after the passing of Beshkempir's mother. Aside from that, I didn't find a whole lot to get excited about in this pretty straightforward coming of age story. Beshkempir is the title character - a boy adopted as a baby by a childless couple, but who has never been told he's adopted. He's treated with a strange mix of contempt and acceptance by the other boys of his village (who know the secret) and even by his own father, although by the end of the movie Beshkempir and his father seem to have sorted out their relationship. Eventually, in a competition for the attentions of a local girl, Beshkempir's secret comes out, and the entire village has to come to terms with it. The movie is filmed mostly in black and white with occasional bursts of colour popping in. It didn't really take hold of me. Overall, a disappointment. 3/10

Not only is this film visually beautiful, shot in black and white with occasional scenes in color depicting the rural village where the film is set and its ancient rituals and traditions, but Abdykalykov also succeeds in telling us the story of Beshkempir, a boy who discovers his adoption, and the transition he makes from a child to a young adult. Strongly recommended.

This film is not only well-acted and written, but it also one of the most visually impressive in years. The story is very simplistic in nature, and its detailed scenes of childhood discovery are captivating and enlightening. A great movie for movie goers of all ages and interests.