The Light Thief (2010)
"Svet-Ake" (original title)

The main hero of the film is an electrician with a far greater effect on the people around him than his job defines. He is the last link in a huge energetic system and he becomes the ... See full summary »

Director:

Aktan Arym Kubat

Writers:

Talip Ibrahimov, Aktan Arym Kubat

Stars:

Aktan Arym Kubat, Taalaikan Abazova, Askat Sulaimanov

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Aktan Arym Kubat	...	Svet-Ake
Taalaikan Abazova	...	Bermet
Askat Sulaimanov	...	Bekzat - businessman
Asan Amanov	...	Esen - old mayor
Stanbek Toichubaev	...	Mansur - new mayor

Storyline

The main hero of the film is an electrician with a far greater effect on the people around him than his job defines. He is the last link in a huge energetic system and he becomes the binding bridge between the geopolitical problems of post-soviet space and the common people. The economic devastation of the country had an enormous impact on the industrial workers and yet despite the upheaval, these people did not seize to love and suffer, to have and be friends and to enjoy their lives. In particular our resilient electrician, who possesses a wonderful and open heart. He not only brings electric light (which is often out) to the lives of the inhabitants of this small city, but he also spreads the light of love, loyalty, life and mainly laughter.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de] Official site [jp]

Country:

France Kyrgyzstan Germany Netherlands

Language:

Kirghiz

Release Date:

2 March 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

The Light Thief

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asap Films, Oy Art Film Producing Company, Pallas Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Disappointing and depressing

I bought this after having read the write-up and back of the box expecting an uplifting, humorous and heartwarming tale.

It is none of these things. The film carries on at a slow pace and gets progressively darker. Just when you think it's all going to turn around and have a positive ending it pulls the rug out from under you and ends on an extremely miserable and unpleasant note.

If the back of the box said "an exploration of the futility of existence in impoverished Kyrgyzstan" You would at least know what you were getting. All that stuff in the write-up about light love and laughter is not really true as the ending of this film smashes any of the humanity that goes before it.

If I'd had a better expectation of the film I probably would have enjoyed it more but it's practically sold as a comedy and is in fact a tragedy.