The Light Thief
Encyclopedia
The Light Thief is a 2010 drama film from Kyrgyzstan
, directed by Aktan Arym Kubat
. The film was Kyrgyzstan's submission for Best Foreign Language Film for the 83rd Academy Awards, but did not make the final shortlist.
was born in 1957 in Kyrgyzstan. He graduated from the Art Academy in Bishkek and started working as a production designer in the 1980s. His second feature film, The Swing, won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1993, which was followed by The Adopted Son, which won the Silver Leopard at the same festival in 1998. In 2001, he was nominated for the European Film Academy (EFA) Discovery Award. The Light Thief is his fifth feature film.
“European funds contributing to the production and with a burning subject such as energy control high on the world’s priority list, this is a surefire festival item, with definite chances for niche art house distribution.” –Screen Daily
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, directed by Aktan Arym Kubat
Aktan Arym Kubat
Aktan Arym Kubat is a Kyrgyz film director.-Filmography:Feature films:1992 «Where is your home, snail?» *JURY PRIZE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN Ashkhabad, Turkmenia...
. The film was Kyrgyzstan's submission for Best Foreign Language Film for the 83rd Academy Awards, but did not make the final shortlist.
About the Director
Aktan Arym KubatAktan Arym Kubat
Aktan Arym Kubat is a Kyrgyz film director.-Filmography:Feature films:1992 «Where is your home, snail?» *JURY PRIZE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN Ashkhabad, Turkmenia...
was born in 1957 in Kyrgyzstan. He graduated from the Art Academy in Bishkek and started working as a production designer in the 1980s. His second feature film, The Swing, won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival in 1993, which was followed by The Adopted Son, which won the Silver Leopard at the same festival in 1998. In 2001, he was nominated for the European Film Academy (EFA) Discovery Award. The Light Thief is his fifth feature film.
Synopsis
In this colorful modern-day parable of good and evil, a humble village electrician devotes his compassion and ingenuity to destitute neighbors in a wind-swept valley of Kyrgyzstan. Played with wry humanity by writer-director Aktan Arym Kubat, the trusting Mr. Light strikes a suspect bargain with a rich developer running for local office, as unemployment threatens the survival of the community. Stoking a dream to supply wind-generated electricity to the whole valley, the modest visionary comes up against an increasingly dark cloud of corruption in this affecting tale of solidarity and ordinary decency amid the injustices and hardships of a changing world.Cast
- Aktan Arym KubatAktan Arym KubatAktan Arym Kubat is a Kyrgyz film director.-Filmography:Feature films:1992 «Where is your home, snail?» *JURY PRIZE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN Ashkhabad, Turkmenia...
as Svet-Ake - Taalaikan Abazova as Bermet
- Askat Sulaimanov as Bekzat
- Asan Amanov as Esen
- Stanbek Toichubaev as Mansur
Global Lens 2011 Series
The film is featured in the Global Lens 2011 film series, sponsored by The Global Film Initiative. Global Lens is an annual program of eight to ten narrative films from around the world. Each year, the series premieres at MoMa and then tours throughout the United States and Canada. Global Lens 2011 includes eight other award-winning narrative feature films from Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Georgia, India, Iran, and Uruguay.Check Global Lens 2011 film calendar for current screenings throughout the United States.Reviews
“The Light Thief might be a simple story, but it's ultimately a complex film” –Montreal Gazette“European funds contributing to the production and with a burning subject such as energy control high on the world’s priority list, this is a surefire festival item, with definite chances for niche art house distribution.” –Screen Daily
Awards
- Locarno International Film FestivalLocarno International Film FestivalThe Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
- Piazza Grande - Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
- Contemporary World Cinema - Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
- Directors' Fortnight - Eurasia International Film Festival - FIPRESCI Prize
External links
- Global Lens 2011 film THE WHITE MEADOWS - The Global Film Initiative
- Film Review - The Guardian UK
- Film Review - Variety
- Film Review - Hollywood Reporter