Leila’s Prayer is a retrospective drama set in the 1960s. It’s based on a story by Rosa Mukanova, a popular modern Kazakhstan writer and the script was written by Akim Terasi and Director S. Narymbetov.
The story concerns a teenage girl called Leila who lives close to the Semipalatinsk nuclear weapon testing area in Kazakhstan. She is a simple shepherdess who spends her days in the steppes. Childishly she watches the nuclear explosions as if they were fireworks, with their mushroom effects, but doesn’t yet sense the life-threatening danger the explosions will bring. Her thoughts turn to prayers for all the people living around her – Kazakhs, Russians and others – and for all mankind.
“Leila’s Prayer is a parable film, a requiem film, a prayer film for everyone,” says Director S. Narymbetov, who is also known as a writer, playwright and scriptwriter – “It has a Biblical theme and will make people reflect on their everyday life and their roots.” The music of Vivaldi, Corelli and Mozart accompany the story, which is narrated throughout by the girl.
Beautiful movie leaving something to think about, also has some authentic pictures of life in villages of Kazakhstan back in Soviet days.
RUSSIAN/KAZAKH DIALOGUE/English subtitles.
Date: 7pm, Thursday 26th February
Fee: 1 pound for non-members
Venue: Cambridge University Graduate Union (location info)
We are pleased to invite you to the very first film event organised by Cambridge University Kazakh Society. We will be screening one of the most famous Kazakh films ‘Nomad’ (2005), followed by a short discussion of some controversial issues in the film.