Harmony Lessons (2013)

Lonely Kazakh teenager Aslan is bullied at his new school. He prepares himself for a bloody revenge on the school bully Bolat.

Director:

Emir Baigazin

Writer:

Emir Baigazin (screenplay)

Stars:

Timur Aidarbekov, Aslan Anarbayev, Mukhtar Andassov

20 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Timur Aidarbekov	...	Aslan
Aslan Anarbayev	...	Bolat
Mukhtar Andassov	...	Mirsain
Anelya Adilbekova	...	Akzhan
Omar Adilov	...	Mad
Adlet Anarbekov	...	Takhir
Daulet Anarbekov	...	Damir
Nursultan Nurbergenov	...	Maksat
Nurdaulet Orazymbetov	...	Daniyar
Erasyl Nurzhakyp	...	Arsen
Asan Kirkabayev	...	Shokan (as Assan Kirkabakov)
Ramazan Sultanbek	...	Gani
Beibitzhan Muslimov	...	Chief Investigator
Bagila Kobenova	...	Aslan's Grandmother

Storyline

Aslan is a 13-year-old loner who lives with his grandmother on a farm somewhere on the steppes of Kazakhstan. When he goes to school, he becomes the victim of bullying by the local thug Bolat. Shy and taciturn Aslan, supported by the relentless new student Mirsayin, starts to seek cruel revenge on the bully.

---

Plot Keywords:

school | 13 year old | grandmother | student | death | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harmony Lessons was awarded a Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Film Festival in 2013.

User Reviews

Harsh and hard

Every movie can be interpreted as to having some sort of allegories to one thing or another. This movie might have a more obvious approach and comparability than others. The beginning itself that turns from playful to violent in an instant is just one of those cases. And while some people might be unnerved just by that, there are other things to come (that might be defined as more cruel).

Society rules and dictates how we live. Even if we rebel against it. If it pushes us down too hard, some will obviously react and try to oppose that force. The movie tries and mostly succeeds in showing that. It still never felt as compelling as it could be. Maybe that is me, because the movie did actually win at the Berlin International Festival. So while I thought the movie was well executed and played (considering the circumstances and the genre that is), I wouldn't have put it in the winning category

Details

Country:

Kazakhstan Germany France

Language:

Kazakh Russian

Release Date:

5 December 2013 (Kazakhstan)

Also Known As:

Harmony Lessons

Filming Locations:

Kazakhstan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kazakhfilm Studios, The Post Republic, Rohfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1