Kek (Ballade of the Forgotten Years)

Colour, 35 mm
Kazakhstan, 2006, 85 min
EP – European premiere
Section: East of the West - Films in Competition

Synopsis

Upholding ancient traditions is an unwritten law for the families and tribes of the infinite Kazakh Steppe. Their barbaric cruelty, however, is unable to thwart the love of the brave Yershor from the Adai tribe and the beautiful Zhemal from the line of Zhaumits, sworn enemies of the Adais. After a single night of happiness, fate separates the lovers forever. Zhemal isn’t broken by the humiliating torture afflicted upon her by her own family, but a far more savage punishment awaits the incarcerated Yershor. This could be seen as a Romeo and Juliet tragedy, however, the story is firmly anchored in the real-life situations and elemental spirit of the Steppe. Its vastness determines both the indomitability of human passion and unbridled hunger for battle. Here, the wind, the gallop of horses, the swift arrows and the rashly drawn sword are symbolic of this native land.

About the director

Damir Manabai (b. 1946) studied at technical college in Shymkent (1966) and subsequently graduated in film and television direction from Moscow’s VGIK (1978). After returning to Kazakhstan he made the film Raushan (1978), the musical Native Steppes (Tugan dala, 1981) and the drama The Scream (Zhan aykai (1986). He enjoyed international acclaim for his film about the enforced collectivisation of Kazakhstan Surzhekei – the Death Angel (Surzhekei, 1991). This was followed by Kazakh Story (Kazaki okifa, 2001). The film Kek (Ballade of the Forgotten Years) is based on the novel by Abish Kekilbayev.