I can’t believe I missed this bit of news (11.17), but Zeitgeist Films has laid claimed to a film that I’ll probably still be talking about once the final shortlist of noms have been chosen and once Oscar night comes to a close. Repped by international art–house specialists The Match Factory, Tulpan — a film fest favorite has been collecting enough trophy ware to fill up director Sergei Dvortsevoy‘s entire shelving space, which with the number of wins, I wouldn’t be surprised includes a couple of kitchen cabinets as well. The docu-realist comedy will be receiving a theatrical release this coming April.
Kazakhstan’s foreign film follows the young Asa, who after completing his military service travels back to the Kazakh steppe where his sister and her shepherd husband live a nomadic life. To start his new life, eager Asa must get married first before he can become a shepherd himself. Asa’s only hope for marriage on the deserted steppe is Tulpan, the daughter of another shepherd family. Poor Asa is disappointed to learn that Tulpan doesn’t like him because she thinks that his ears are too big. But Asa doesn’t give up and he continues to dream of a life that may not be possible.
