Song of the Tree

Original title: Дарак ыры
Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance / Action
Director: Aibek Daiyrbekov
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Year of production: 2018
Czas: 93 min

Awards and nominations:
2019 Dhaka International Film Festival: Best Film
2019 Kazan International Festival of Muslim Cinema: Best Film
2019 Ak Ilbirs National Film Awards: Best Editing
 
The story is set at the foot of majestic summits of Tian Shan. It’s the 17th century on the vast steppes of Kyrgyzstan. A nomad village is ruled by harsh Bazarbai. His daughter Begimai loves Esen against her father’s wishes. Esen, often humiliated and derided by the locals, is a son of a poor widow Dariika. On the outskirts of the village there’s a holy tree to which Dariika prays for the health and welfare of her people. One day Bazarbai is visited by noble guests. The host organises horse-riding competition kok boru and a lavish feast. When Esen avenges another humiliation by ruining the gathering, Bazarbai orders to cut down the holy tree to make a new dinner. The death of the tree brings misfortunes to the village.
Aibek Daiyrbekov made the first Kyrgyz musical basing on legends he had heard from his grandmother. A fairy tale-like story is also a pretext to show customs of nomadic peoples of Kyrgyzstan, from weddings and national sports to putting up a yurt. Zholdoshbek Apasov’s music played on traditional instruments and songs emphasising crucial plot points add to the unique atmosphere.
 
Author: Anna Bugajska
 
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Aibek Daiyrbekov studied journalism at The Kyrgyz National University and participated in directing courses at the Foundation for the Development of Cinematography. He worked in television where he directed a drama series “The Dream City” (2009) and wrote a screenplay for a comedy crime TV show “Gaishniki” (2008-2010). He’s been the youngest ever president of the Kyrgyz Film Society since 2009.