The Hunter

(Okhotnik)

by Serik Aprymov

Kazakhstan

Director: Serik Aprymov

Script: Serik Aprymov

Cinematographer: Hassan Kidiraliev

Editing: D. Bersugurova, T. Suhorukova

Sound: L. Akhmadeev

Art Director: G. Aprymova

Cast: K. Dogdurbek, Z. Alibek, O. Gulnazid, I. Nurzhuman, I. Zhambota

Production:
East Cinema
Tel: +7.32.72.24.88.92
Fax: +7.32.72.48.09.09
Mail: [email protected]

Corproduction:
NHK Asian Film Festival Office
Tel: +81.3.34.81.78.50
Fax: +81.3.34.81.77.88
Mail: [email protected]

Distribution:
Brussels avenue
Rue des Visitandines 1/48
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
Tel: +32.2.511.91.56
Fax: +32.2.511.81.39
Mail: [email protected]

Year: 2004

35 mm, Colour, 90 min
OV Kazakh with French Subtitles

Unreleased

Erke is a twelve-year-old boy living alone with his mother, a very attractive and alluring woman, in a village in the mountains of Kazakhstan. The taciturn and distant boy is somehow considered as a " wolf child ". One night, while a hunter is with his mother, he steals his horse and rifle, and robs a shop. Having the police hot on his heels, he has no choice other than to follow the hunter in the mountains. This is the beginning of an initiation journey during which the hunter will try to pass his values and tastes on him. He wants to awaken a new start, a warmth within him and make him appreciate the beauty of nature, women and friendship. He teaches him how man is never alone in the world, but constantly linked to other men, nature and animals.

“In this film, I wanted to combine mythological elements and a realist narrative mode, in order to express the complexity and the contradictions of two worlds: that of men and that, more harmonious of wild beasts. I use poetic and farcical symbols, since notions of good and evil are by no means universal”. Serik Aprymov