list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Tulpan on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Tulpan/373281/default.aspx Title: Tulpan
Year: 2008
Plot: After completing his naval service, young Asa 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 on the steppe ...
Times Tagged: 5
Number of Lists: 2
Number of blog posts: 10
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:43:16 GMTTulpan2008After completing his naval service, young Asa 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 on the steppe ...5Slightly Tagged (1-5)2103http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s373281.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Tulpan/373281/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/kevynknox/archive/2009/6/29/42864.aspx Post By: KevynKnox
Post To: KevynKnox Blog
Post Date: 6/29/2009 7:43:16 PM
Body: Lisa Schwarzbaum, sagacious critic at large of Entertainment Weekly, said of Tulpan, "If you see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year, choose this prize-winning honey". Surely tongue-in-cheek but a more straightforwardly profound statement on this film has yet to be uttered. Indeed, if you do see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year... Seriously though, Tulpan is the story of a lone family of sheepherders somewhere in the steppes of southern Kazakhstan and the way they deal with their daily lives in this inhospitable landscape known as the hunger steppes. We get the hardened patriarch Ondas, his beautiful and suffering wife Samal, their three rambunctious children - the eldest of which recites the news he has learned on the radio with a seemingly photographic memory, another giddily shrills out ear-piercing songs to the obvious annoyance of her gruff father and the youngest bent on swatting everyone around him with a stick - and a slew of bleating, grunting, hooting and hollering livestock. The crux of the film though sits with Asa, brother of Samal and seeming bane to his brother-in-law Ondas. Played with a naive energy by Askhat Kuchencherekov, Asa spends the film trying oh so vainly to marry a young girl - the never seen but oft talked of and pined over titular Tulpan - and start his own sheep herd complete with a yurt of his very own. It is Asa's luckless attempt to woo the standoffish Tulpan and secure his own much dreamed of future that is the heart of this sweetly desolate story. This first feature by Russian ethno-documentarian Sergei Dvortsevoy, and winner of the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes, is a spectacular visual and aural experience well worth your unsuspecting time. Replete with stunningly extended unbroken shots reminiscent of Tarkovsky, Reygadas, Sokurov and Bela Tarr, Tulpan is a remarkable feat of cinematic chutzpah made real. Perhaps Dvotsevoy is not exactly in the aforementioned strata quite yet, he has designed and built a film worthy of drawing some attention away from those same said aforementioned. Designed and photographed with a sparse fluidity and an eye for quiet detail in a world that is nothing but wide open nothingness, this barren scarred landscape appears as if some alien world out of Frank Herbert or maybe even the (again) aforementioned Tarkovsky. Much like the equally sparse and more-than-equally charming ethnographic film Fast Runner from 2000 and the whirling dervish Mexican new wave film Silent Light from last year, Tulpan is not only a marvel to marvel at (his use of a camera eye is beyond reproach even if he stills falls just a wee bit short of what takes a film from the subtle gradations of great to fantastic), but also a blending of fiction storytelling with the most documentary of demeanor. Much like the ethnographic demi-docs of Robert Flaherty and Werner Herzog, it is Dvortsevoy's blending of fact and fiction, of drama and documentary, of the real and the make-believe that makes Tulpan work on an even deeper level than the mere awe-inspiring artistic filmmaking that one first sees and hears. And, just like Flaherty and Herzog, Dvortsevoy lived with his subjects/actors right out there on those harsh, unforgiving steppes. Sleeping, eating, drinking and singing with cast and crew. This immersion into a culture (real or otherwise) brings an even whole other level of playing field to the game. And it is Dvortsevoy's subtly evocative camera that brings we the viewers into these supposed lives as well, until we feel as if we too are sleeping, eating, drinking and singing in their ramshackle yurt as well. Seriously though, to paraphrase a bit more from Ms. Schwarzbaum, if you see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year, make it Tulpan.
]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:43:16 GMTKevynKnoxKevynKnox Blog6/29/2009 7:43:16 PMLisa Schwarzbaum, sagacious critic at large of Entertainment Weekly, said of Tulpan, "If you see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year, choose this prize-winning honey". Surely tongue-in-cheek but a more straightforwardly profound statement on this film has yet to be uttered. Indeed, if you do see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year... Seriously though, Tulpan is the story of a lone family of sheepherders somewhere in the steppes of southern Kazakhstan and the way they deal with their daily lives in this inhospitable landscape known as the hunger steppes. We get the hardened patriarch Ondas, his beautiful and suffering wife Samal, their three rambunctious children - the eldest of which recites the news he has learned on the radio with a seemingly photographic memory, another giddily shrills out ear-piercing songs to the obvious annoyance of her gruff father and the youngest bent on swatting everyone around him with a stick - and a slew of bleating, grunting, hooting and hollering livestock. The crux of the film though sits with Asa, brother of Samal and seeming bane to his brother-in-law Ondas. Played with a naive energy by Askhat Kuchencherekov, Asa spends the film trying oh so vainly to marry a young girl - the never seen but oft talked of and pined over titular Tulpan - and start his own sheep herd complete with a yurt of his very own. It is Asa's luckless attempt to woo the standoffish Tulpan and secure his own much dreamed of future that is the heart of this sweetly desolate story. This first feature by Russian ethno-documentarian Sergei Dvortsevoy, and winner of the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes, is a spectacular visual and aural experience well worth your unsuspecting time. Replete with stunningly extended unbroken shots reminiscent of Tarkovsky, Reygadas, Sokurov and Bela Tarr, Tulpan is a remarkable feat of cinematic chutzpah made real. Perhaps Dvotsevoy is not exactly in the aforementioned strata quite yet, he has designed and built a film worthy of drawing some attention away from those same said aforementioned. Designed and photographed with a sparse fluidity and an eye for quiet detail in a world that is nothing but wide open nothingness, this barren scarred landscape appears as if some alien world out of Frank Herbert or maybe even the (again) aforementioned Tarkovsky. Much like the equally sparse and more-than-equally charming ethnographic film Fast Runner from 2000 and the whirling dervish Mexican new wave film Silent Light from last year, Tulpan is not only a marvel to marvel at (his use of a camera eye is beyond reproach even if he stills falls just a wee bit short of what takes a film from the subtle gradations of great to fantastic), but also a blending of fiction storytelling with the most documentary of demeanor. Much like the ethnographic demi-docs of Robert Flaherty and Werner Herzog, it is Dvortsevoy's blending of fact and fiction, of drama and documentary, of the real and the make-believe that makes Tulpan work on an even deeper level than the mere awe-inspiring artistic filmmaking that one first sees and hears. And, just like Flaherty and Herzog, Dvortsevoy lived with his subjects/actors right out there on those harsh, unforgiving steppes. Sleeping, eating, drinking and singing with cast and crew. This immersion into a culture (real or otherwise) brings an even whole other level of playing field to the game. And it is Dvortsevoy's subtly evocative camera that brings we the viewers into these supposed lives as well, until we feel as if we too are sleeping, eating, drinking and singing in their ramshackle yurt as well. Seriously though, to paraphrase a bit more from Ms. Schwarzbaum, if you see only one comic love story from Kazakhstan this year, make it Tulpan. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/1/2/39035.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 1/2/2009 9:00:46 AM
Body: 2008 was not the banner year that ‘07 turned out to be, but there were still plenty of movies worth watching. Sometimes end-of-year lists look like straight Oscar predictions, with little deviance from critic to critic, not so this year. Some of our favorite stuff was not playing in a theatre near you, some of it was. For the record, our complete lists are after the jump. But first! Wholphin 7 is out now! The geniuses over at McSweeny’s have once again curated a delightful collection of rare and unseen short films. We share our thoughts about a few favorites. One film we both loved, Glory at Sea, is available for free here.   (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday) 0:00 - Intro, listener e-mail 2:59 - Wholphin 7 16:18 - Kevin’s list, Paul’s “soup” filmcouch-102 Paul’s unranked list: Tulpan Be Kind Rewind I Love Sarah Jane (entire film viewable) August Evening Shotgun Stories Revanche The Dark Knight Glory at Sea Kevin’s ranked list: 1. The Dark Knight 2. Let the Right One In 3. The Good, The Bad, and The Weird 4. Wall-E 5. Wellness 6. Happy-Go-Lucky 7. Glory at Sea 8. Waltz With Bashir 9. Medicine for Melancholy 10. Encounters at the End of the World Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:00:46 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com1/2/2009 9:00:46 AM 2008 was not the banner year that ‘07 turned out to be, but there were still plenty of movies worth watching. Sometimes end-of-year lists look like straight Oscar predictions, with little deviance from critic to critic, not so this year. Some of our favorite stuff was not playing in a theatre near you, some of it was. For the record, our complete lists are after the jump. But first! Wholphin 7 is out now! The geniuses over at McSweeny’s have once again curated a delightful collection of rare and unseen short films. We share our thoughts about a few favorites. One film we both loved, Glory at Sea, is available for free here.   (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday) 0:00 - Intro, listener e-mail 2:59 - Wholphin 7 16:18 - Kevin’s list, Paul’s “soup” filmcouch-102 Paul’s unranked list: Tulpan Be Kind Rewind I Love Sarah Jane (entire film viewable) August Evening Shotgun Stories Revanche The Dark Knight Glory at Sea Kevin’s ranked list: 1. The Dark Knight 2. Let the Right One In 3. The Good, The Bad, and The Weird 4. Wall-E 5. Wellness 6. Happy-Go-Lucky 7. Glory at Sea 8. Waltz With Bashir 9. Medicine for Melancholy 10. Encounters at the End of the World Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/5/34782.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/5/2008 9:00:59 AM
Body: The Telluride Film Festival is what Sundance would be if it took place in heaven. Every year the tiny mountain hamlet hosts four days of hassle-free cinema paradise. There were grumblings about the lack of American films, but we still found plenty to love. Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake) came with his delightful new movie, Happy-Go-Lucky. He sat down for a disgruntled yet insightful interview. Paul Schrader (Affliction, Hardcore) seemed as blow away as we were by his latest film, Adam Resurrected, starring Jeff Goldblum. (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday) 0:00 - Intro, Telluride faves: Waltz with Bashir, Revanche, The Good, the Bad, and the Weird, Tulpan, The Rest is Silence. 7:04 - Happy-Go-Lucky, with Mike Leigh interview. 19:52 - Adam Resurrected, with Paul Schrader interview. filmcouch-86 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:00:59 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/5/2008 9:00:59 AM The Telluride Film Festival is what Sundance would be if it took place in heaven. Every year the tiny mountain hamlet hosts four days of hassle-free cinema paradise. There were grumblings about the lack of American films, but we still found plenty to love. Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake) came with his delightful new movie, Happy-Go-Lucky. He sat down for a disgruntled yet insightful interview. Paul Schrader (Affliction, Hardcore) seemed as blow away as we were by his latest film, Adam Resurrected, starring Jeff Goldblum. (Subscribe to FilmCouch–Spout’s weekly movie podcast–in the iTunes store or to our RSS feed and an episode will download each Friday) 0:00 - Intro, Telluride faves: Waltz with Bashir, Revanche, The Good, the Bad, and the Weird, Tulpan, The Rest is Silence. 7:04 - Happy-Go-Lucky, with Mike Leigh interview. 19:52 - Adam Resurrected, with Paul Schrader interview. filmcouch-86 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/karina/archive/2008/9/4/34736.aspx Post By: Karina
Post To: Karina on SpoutBlog
Post Date: 9/4/2008 11:01:27 AM
Body: Prodigal Sons review The Curious Case of Benjamin Button preview (and backlash) Waltz with Bashir review Jeff Goldblum, Media Diet interview Helen review Tulpan review O’Horten review Learning Gravity review Ken Burns, Media Diet interview You Must Remember This: The Warner Brothers Story and tribute to Richard Schickel ‘Movies Are Over.’ Directors, Distribs & Journos Debate Future of Film & Criticism Hunger, Steve McQueen interview Slavoj Zizek and Nazi melodrama Telluride 2008 photos Slumdog Millionaire review Adam Resurrected, Paul Schrader interview Firaaq review The Rest is Silence review I’ve Loved You So Long review The Good, The Bad and the Weird interview with Kim Ji-Woon Revanche review Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth
]]>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:01:27 GMTKarinaKarina on SpoutBlog9/4/2008 11:01:27 AM Prodigal Sons review The Curious Case of Benjamin Button preview (and backlash) Waltz with Bashir review Jeff Goldblum, Media Diet interview Helen review Tulpan review O’Horten review Learning Gravity review Ken Burns, Media Diet interview You Must Remember This: The Warner Brothers Story and tribute to Richard Schickel ‘Movies Are Over.’ Directors, Distribs & Journos Debate Future of Film & Criticism Hunger, Steve McQueen interview Slavoj Zizek and Nazi melodrama Telluride 2008 photos Slumdog Millionaire review Adam Resurrected, Paul Schrader interview Firaaq review The Rest is Silence review I’ve Loved You So Long review The Good, The Bad and the Weird interview with Kim Ji-Woon Revanche review Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/4/34735.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/4/2008 11:01:18 AM
Body: Prodigal Sons review The Curious Case of Benjamin Button preview (and backlash) Waltz with Bashir review Jeff Goldblum, Media Diet interview Helen review Tulpan review O’Horten review Learning Gravity review Ken Burns, Media Diet interview You Must Remember This: The Warner Brothers Story and tribute to Richard Schickel ‘Movies Are Over.’ Directors, Distribs & Journos Debate Future of Film & Criticism Hunger, Steve McQueen interview Slavoj Zizek and Nazi melodrama Telluride 2008 photos Slumdog Millionaire review Adam Resurrected, Paul Schrader interview Firaaq review The Rest is Silence review I’ve Loved You So Long review The Good, The Bad and the Weird interview with Kim Ji-Woon Revanche review Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:01:18 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/4/2008 11:01:18 AM Prodigal Sons review The Curious Case of Benjamin Button preview (and backlash) Waltz with Bashir review Jeff Goldblum, Media Diet interview Helen review Tulpan review O’Horten review Learning Gravity review Ken Burns, Media Diet interview You Must Remember This: The Warner Brothers Story and tribute to Richard Schickel ‘Movies Are Over.’ Directors, Distribs & Journos Debate Future of Film & Criticism Hunger, Steve McQueen interview Slavoj Zizek and Nazi melodrama Telluride 2008 photos Slumdog Millionaire review Adam Resurrected, Paul Schrader interview Firaaq review The Rest is Silence review I’ve Loved You So Long review The Good, The Bad and the Weird interview with Kim Ji-Woon Revanche review Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/30/34571.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/30/2008 10:01:02 PM
Body: Telluride is celebrating a great talent coming out of Kazakhstan this year, Sergei Dvortsevoy. Although he’s here with only his first feature film (which, incidentally, took four years to make), there’s a slate of documentaries he’s brought that the festival directors tout as “must sees.” In the Q&A for his first feature film, Tulpan, Dvortsevoy described shooting the first scene of the movie, a 10 minute long take of a ewe giving birth. He showed it to his small cast of Kazakh actors and non-actors and said, “That’s what we have to live up to.” And it’s true. If there were a Best Non-human Actor Oscar, this sheep would have it (although the Academy would probably give it to one of these damn Disney chihuahuas). Fortunately, the cast lived up to the animal’s authenticity with each scene and breathed life into a simple fable. Asa is a young man living with his sister’s family after a stint in the navy. They’re nomadic sheep herders and Asa works for his older brother in law, Ondas. He’s anxious to start his adult life and for him it will begin with marrying Tulpan, the title character. But neither Tulpan nor her parents are interested in the arrangement. Asa’s not established himself as a herdsman. He begs his brother-in-law for a herd, but he can’t get a herd until he’s married. Therein lies Asa’s dilemma he must face to go from boy to man. But it’s Dvortsevoy’s meticulous direction that creates a cinematic experience. It’s not just the performances that are enamoring, it’s the sheer starkness of the environment. You see, Tulpan is not just the only girl for Asa. She’s literally the only girl, which sounds ridiculous until you see the Hunger Steppe of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on the planet, and the steppe is a vast, flat sea of dust. From the family’s yurt–a tent that looks like a giant wicker basket turned upside down and covered in wool blankets–there’s 360 degrees of flat horizon and nothing to break it. Not even a telephone pole. A constant wind buffets the earth and its droll is only broken by the sharp cries of one of Ondas’ children, his sheep or the engine of a tractor-turned-truck driven by a porn loving courier, Asa’s only outside friend. The isolation is unnerving, but it also clarifies the inherent drama of this family. There’s no need for Dvortsevoy to impress us with symbolism. The reality is the metaphor. For Ondas, when he can save a lamb, he insures his children’s survival. Dvortsevoy’s long, uninterrupted takes pull up the quiet angst of their life. We don’t have to hear Ondas say, “Life as a herdsman is really hard,” because it’s a fact we become intimate with. So, in Tulpan when it’s time for a sheep to give birth, we’re right there, hanging on every moment. And that sense of The Other that Sasha Baron Coen used to make his Kazakh character Borat so funny, is nowhere to be found. (Sergei Dvortsevoy’s documentaries are also playing at Telluride’s Backlot: Paradise, Highway, Bread Day and In the Dark.) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:01:02 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/30/2008 10:01:02 PMTelluride is celebrating a great talent coming out of Kazakhstan this year, Sergei Dvortsevoy. Although he’s here with only his first feature film (which, incidentally, took four years to make), there’s a slate of documentaries he’s brought that the festival directors tout as “must sees.” In the Q&A for his first feature film, Tulpan, Dvortsevoy described shooting the first scene of the movie, a 10 minute long take of a ewe giving birth. He showed it to his small cast of Kazakh actors and non-actors and said, “That’s what we have to live up to.” And it’s true. If there were a Best Non-human Actor Oscar, this sheep would have it (although the Academy would probably give it to one of these damn Disney chihuahuas). Fortunately, the cast lived up to the animal’s authenticity with each scene and breathed life into a simple fable. Asa is a young man living with his sister’s family after a stint in the navy. They’re nomadic sheep herders and Asa works for his older brother in law, Ondas. He’s anxious to start his adult life and for him it will begin with marrying Tulpan, the title character. But neither Tulpan nor her parents are interested in the arrangement. Asa’s not established himself as a herdsman. He begs his brother-in-law for a herd, but he can’t get a herd until he’s married. Therein lies Asa’s dilemma he must face to go from boy to man. But it’s Dvortsevoy’s meticulous direction that creates a cinematic experience. It’s not just the performances that are enamoring, it’s the sheer starkness of the environment. You see, Tulpan is not just the only girl for Asa. She’s literally the only girl, which sounds ridiculous until you see the Hunger Steppe of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on the planet, and the steppe is a vast, flat sea of dust. From the family’s yurt–a tent that looks like a giant wicker basket turned upside down and covered in wool blankets–there’s 360 degrees of flat horizon and nothing to break it. Not even a telephone pole. A constant wind buffets the earth and its droll is only broken by the sharp cries of one of Ondas’ children, his sheep or the engine of a tractor-turned-truck driven by a porn loving courier, Asa’s only outside friend. The isolation is unnerving, but it also clarifies the inherent drama of this family. There’s no need for Dvortsevoy to impress us with symbolism. The reality is the metaphor. For Ondas, when he can save a lamb, he insures his children’s survival. Dvortsevoy’s long, uninterrupted takes pull up the quiet angst of their life. We don’t have to hear Ondas say, “Life as a herdsman is really hard,” because it’s a fact we become intimate with. So, in Tulpan when it’s time for a sheep to give birth, we’re right there, hanging on every moment. And that sense of The Other that Sasha Baron Coen used to make his Kazakh character Borat so funny, is nowhere to be found. (Sergei Dvortsevoy’s documentaries are also playing at Telluride’s Backlot: Paradise, Highway, Bread Day and In the Dark.) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/8/30/34569.aspx Post By: paul
Post To: paul on spout.com
Post Date: 8/30/2008 10:00:45 PM
Body: Telluride is celebrating a great talent coming out of Kazakhstan this year, Sergei Dvortsevoy. Although he’s here with only his first feature film (which, incidentally, took four years to make), there’s a slate of documentaries he’s brought that the festival directors tout as “must sees.” In the Q&A for his first feature film, Tulpan, Dvortsevoy described shooting the first scene of the movie, a 10 minute long take of a ewe giving birth. He showed it to his small cast of Kazakh actors and non-actors and said, “That’s what we have to live up to.” And it’s true. If there were a Best Non-human Actor Oscar, this sheep would have it (although the Academy would probably give it to one of these damn Disney chihuahuas). Fortunately, the cast lived up to the animal’s authenticity with each scene and breathed life into a simple fable. Asa is a young man living with his sister’s family after a stint in the navy. They’re nomadic sheep herders and Asa works for his older brother in law, Ondas. He’s anxious to start his adult life and for him it will begin with marrying Tulpan, the title character. But neither Tulpan nor her parents are interested in the arrangement. Asa’s not established himself as a herdsman. He begs his brother-in-law for a herd, but he can’t get a herd until he’s married. Therein lies Asa’s dilemma he must face to go from boy to man. But it’s Dvortsevoy’s meticulous direction that creates a cinematic experience. It’s not just the performances that are enamoring, it’s the sheer starkness of the environment. You see, Tulpan is not just the only girl for Asa. She’s literally the only girl, which sounds ridiculous until you see the Hunger Steppe of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on the planet, and the steppe is a vast, flat sea of dust. From the family’s yurt–a tent that looks like a giant wicker basket turned upside down and covered in wool blankets–there’s 360 degrees of flat horizon and nothing to break it. Not even a telephone pole. A constant wind buffets the earth and its droll is only broken by the sharp cries of one of Ondas’ children, his sheep or the engine of a tractor-turned-truck driven by a porn loving courier, Asa’s only outside friend. The isolation is unnerving, but it also clarifies the inherent drama of this family. There’s no need for Dvortsevoy to impress us with symbolism. The reality is the metaphor. For Ondas, when he can save a lamb, he insures his children’s survival. Dvortsevoy’s long, uninterrupted takes pull up the quiet angst of their life. We don’t have to hear Ondas say, “Life as a herdsman is really hard,” because it’s a fact we become intimate with. So, in Tulpan when it’s time for a sheep to give birth, we’re right there, hanging on every moment. And that sense of The Other that Sasha Baron Coen used to make his Kazakh character Borat so funny, is nowhere to be found. (Sergei Dvortsevoy’s documentaries are also playing at Telluride’s Backlot: Paradise, Highway, Bread Day and In the Dark.) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Paul Moore
]]>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:00:45 GMTpaulpaul on spout.com8/30/2008 10:00:45 PMTelluride is celebrating a great talent coming out of Kazakhstan this year, Sergei Dvortsevoy. Although he’s here with only his first feature film (which, incidentally, took four years to make), there’s a slate of documentaries he’s brought that the festival directors tout as “must sees.” In the Q&A for his first feature film, Tulpan, Dvortsevoy described shooting the first scene of the movie, a 10 minute long take of a ewe giving birth. He showed it to his small cast of Kazakh actors and non-actors and said, “That’s what we have to live up to.” And it’s true. If there were a Best Non-human Actor Oscar, this sheep would have it (although the Academy would probably give it to one of these damn Disney chihuahuas). Fortunately, the cast lived up to the animal’s authenticity with each scene and breathed life into a simple fable. Asa is a young man living with his sister’s family after a stint in the navy. They’re nomadic sheep herders and Asa works for his older brother in law, Ondas. He’s anxious to start his adult life and for him it will begin with marrying Tulpan, the title character. But neither Tulpan nor her parents are interested in the arrangement. Asa’s not established himself as a herdsman. He begs his brother-in-law for a herd, but he can’t get a herd until he’s married. Therein lies Asa’s dilemma he must face to go from boy to man. But it’s Dvortsevoy’s meticulous direction that creates a cinematic experience. It’s not just the performances that are enamoring, it’s the sheer starkness of the environment. You see, Tulpan is not just the only girl for Asa. She’s literally the only girl, which sounds ridiculous until you see the Hunger Steppe of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on the planet, and the steppe is a vast, flat sea of dust. From the family’s yurt–a tent that looks like a giant wicker basket turned upside down and covered in wool blankets–there’s 360 degrees of flat horizon and nothing to break it. Not even a telephone pole. A constant wind buffets the earth and its droll is only broken by the sharp cries of one of Ondas’ children, his sheep or the engine of a tractor-turned-truck driven by a porn loving courier, Asa’s only outside friend. The isolation is unnerving, but it also clarifies the inherent drama of this family. There’s no need for Dvortsevoy to impress us with symbolism. The reality is the metaphor. For Ondas, when he can save a lamb, he insures his children’s survival. Dvortsevoy’s long, uninterrupted takes pull up the quiet angst of their life. We don’t have to hear Ondas say, “Life as a herdsman is really hard,” because it’s a fact we become intimate with. So, in Tulpan when it’s time for a sheep to give birth, we’re right there, hanging on every moment. And that sense of The Other that Sasha Baron Coen used to make his Kazakh character Borat so funny, is nowhere to be found. (Sergei Dvortsevoy’s documentaries are also playing at Telluride’s Backlot: Paradise, Highway, Bread Day and In the Dark.) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Paul Moore http://www.spout.com/blogs/akdennis/archive/2008/8/30/34545.aspx Post By: akdennis
Post To: akdennis Blog
Post Date: 8/30/2008 1:34:58 AM
Body: This movie got me out of the doldrums of what looked like a lack-luster year this year at the TFF. It was wonderful. It's a story of life in rural Kazakhstan as seen through the daily life of family that survives through goat hearding. It was in Russian and Kazakh with subtitles and was 100m long but seemed longer. Some scenes had the camera frozen on them for as long as 10 minutes which is maybe why the movie seemed long to me. The director also included many camera pans around the countryside giving an in-depth view of the geography (vast and flat). Director Peter Sellars interviewed the director of this film afterward and there was a Q & A session. The director discussed his technique of editing and cutting less (less is more) to allow significant scenes to play out fully. It was truly an interesing movie, and the director is a very interesting guy who was first an aviation engineer before going to film school later. This was a great start for me at this year's festival.....every year is a good year at the TFF. -Dennis
]]>Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:34:58 GMTakdennisakdennis Blog8/30/2008 1:34:58 AMThis movie got me out of the doldrums of what looked like a lack-luster year this year at the TFF. It was wonderful. It's a story of life in rural Kazakhstan as seen through the daily life of family that survives through goat hearding. It was in Russian and Kazakh with subtitles and was 100m long but seemed longer. Some scenes had the camera frozen on them for as long as 10 minutes which is maybe why the movie seemed long to me. The director also included many camera pans around the countryside giving an in-depth view of the geography (vast and flat). Director Peter Sellars interviewed the director of this film afterward and there was a Q & A session. The director discussed his technique of editing and cutting less (less is more) to allow significant scenes to play out fully. It was truly an interesing movie, and the director is a very interesting guy who was first an aviation engineer before going to film school later. This was a great start for me at this year's festival.....every year is a good year at the TFF. -Dennis http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/29/34517.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/29/2008 9:01:07 AM
Body: The 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. The full lineup is after the jump. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:01:07 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/29/2008 9:01:07 AMThe 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. The full lineup is after the jump. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/8/28/34511.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/28/2008 6:01:00 PM
Body: The 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac (The Director’s Cut) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:01:00 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com8/28/2008 6:01:00 PMThe 2008 Telluride Film Festival list of movies was revealed this afternoon. Our team on the ground is going to be back with more commentary on the selections but it looks to be an exciting and eclectic festival this year as usual. You can also stay up to date here on SpoutBlog or join in the conversation that develops around these movies on our Telluride Film Festival Group page. A New Land (Nybyggarna) Adam Resurrected American Violet An Italian Straw Hat (Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie) Daddy and Lili Marlene Elmer Gantry Everlasting Moments Firaaq Flame & Citron Gomorrah Happy-Go-Lucky Helen Here Is Your Life (Haer Har Du Ditt Liv) Hunger I’ve Loved You So Long… Innocence Unprotected(Nevinost bez Zastite) Kisses Learning Gravity Lola Montès Low Level Flight Meet You in Denver Nightmare Alley O’Horten On Dangerous Ground Philanthropy Pirate for the Sea Pirosmani Private Century Revanche Seconds The Emigrants The Fall of Berlin (Padeniye Berlina) The Good, the Bad and the Weird The Great Sacrifice (Opfergang) The Rest is Silence (Restul e Tacere) Tulpan Waltz With Bashir With a Little Help From Myself (Aide-toi le ciel t’aidera) You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love Zodiac (The Director’s Cut) Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/navy/MemberTagFilms.aspxnavy
Number of films tagged: 434

Number of people who tagged: 21

Number of times used: 42

]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:22:40 GMT4342142Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/NYFF08/MemberTagFilms.aspxNYFF08
Number of films tagged: 35

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 35

]]>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:11:05 GMT35235Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Telluride08/MemberTagFilms.aspxTelluride08
Number of films tagged: 55

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 56

]]>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:25:19 GMT55256Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/TIFF08/MemberTagFilms.aspxTIFF08
Number of films tagged: 252

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 252

]]>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:48:32 GMT2522252Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Toronto-Film-Fest-2008/MemberTagFilms.aspxToronto-Film-Fest-2008
Number of films tagged: 252

Number of people who tagged: 2

Number of times used: 252

]]>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:48:40 GMT2522252Tag