Deal at the Border (Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi) Kyrgyztan. Official Section |

Deal at the Border
Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi
Kyrgyztan. 2024. 104 min

At the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border, Aza and Samat work as members of a drug trafficking organization. One day, they run into Nazik, who has narrowly escaped from human traffickers. Aza decides to give up the drug money and save Nazik, but Nazik tragically dies while crossing a river. Aza is determined to at least return Nazik’s remains to her homeland, but his decision thrusts him into even greater danger. The border regions of Central Asian countries, that are located adjacent to Afghanistan where massive amounts of drugs are produced, are hotspots for drug trafficking and organized crime. As those desperate for survival struggle to maintain a shred of dignity, the camera frequently pulls back to capture the vast and indifferent mountainous landscapes of the borderlands. The film is genre-driven but is also captivating with its restrained dialogue and composed visuals.

DASTAN ZHAPAR RYSKELDI

Dastan Zhapar stands as a leading young filmmaker in Kyrgyzstan, renowned for directing pivotal films like “Atanyn Kereezi” (A Father’s Will) (2016) and “Akyrky Koch” (The Road to Eden) (2020). His acclaim includes the esteemed Golden Zenith at the Montreal World Film Festival for his debut work. As a member of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) and affiliations with the Union of Filmmakers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Confederation of Unions of Filmmakers of the CIS and Baltic countries, he continues to shape the cinematic landscape with his impactful storytelling and directorial finesse.

DIRECTOR,S NOTE

The theme of human trafficking has haunted me for years due to a personal experience within my family. When I was 16, my brother vanished while working construction abroad. Later, we discovered he had been enslaved. Though he eventually escaped and returned home, those anguishing weeks of uncertainty remain etched in my memory.

As we grew older, my brother pursued writing while I pursued filmmaking. Our shared experience united us, and we decided to bring to life a project I had long nurtured. My greatest challenge was remaining honest with myself and true to my emotional background. This approach extended to every aspect of filmmaking, from casting to location choices and the narrative’s pacing.