Saturday, January 16, 2010

Boundary Line... [ IFFK Film Review]

True Noon


A historical conflict between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan provides the basis for "True Noon. It is a drama that could take place almost anywhere on the globe right now. Director Nosir Saidov pictures the happenings took place in a village which became a border of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He tells the story of the innocent villagers and their lifestyles. He also tries to say how the common people are affected with political games.


In the mountain village of Safedobi, Kirill is training his apprentice Nilufar to become the town's next weather observer. Originally from Russia, Kirill is hoping she can take over from him full time so that he can be reunited with his family. The only problem with his plan is that Nilufar is about to be married to Aziz, the son of a rich local who expects the newlyweds to move into the fancy house he built them. Things take a turn for the worse when, the army moves in and announces that the town sits on a new international border, and tells everyone to take their concerns to the district council. Nilufar and Aziz's marriage become fraught with danger and it's not long before tragedy ensues.

Saidov makes his point vivid by keeping things matter-of-fact and occasionally comical. The villagers don't let civics interfere with their lives at first, and just mosey up to the fence and haggle with each other from opposite sides. But Nilufar's wedding brings just how serious the issue is into sharp relief.


"True Noon" never considers nationalism a problem for its characters; with the exception of Kirill, everyone is from Safedobi and that's how they identify. This film also shows how beautiful are the Central Asian and European girls. The heroine herself is a beauty queen (The actress is Nasiba Sharipova). What the film does consider is the hand centralized, distant bureaucracies have in creating nationalism and how fundamentally fragile our social connections are. The visual beauty is also framed well by the director. The film was accepted greatly in the film festival and became the viewers choice film of IFFK.


True Noon (Ghiyame Rooz): Rating – 7 out of 10

Country: Tajikistan

Director: Nosir Saidov

Date of screening: 14-12-2009, 11:30:00 (Ajanta Theatre)

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