Centaur

"Centaur" has earned his nickname because of his obsession with myths about horses. But his obsession goes well beyond his faith in these mostly forgotten, ridiculed stories. Unbeknownst to anyone, he steals horses at night, rides them as fast as he can, and then lets them go.

This is a minimalist but wonderfully engaging film, with rich characters and nice visuals. Centaur is a great character: He's happy with his mute wife and their son (who is 4 years old but hasn't spoken yet) he's not interested in wealth, a bigger house, or anything his rich brother has. He's content with his life, and other than his wife and kid, his only interest is horses, which "once were the wings of warriors, the men who rode them."

The film makes quite a few references to life in modern Kyrgyzstan, where tradition and the 21st century coexist, and they are quite interesting. But these references all happen in the background, and the focus is always the story and characters. Which is a quality sadly missing from most modern films.

This is not a film for action or Hollywood fans, but anyone who's first and foremost interested in story and characters in cinema, will find Centaur a delight.

First of all its a really simple storyline: An old family father becomes a thief, when he steals horses to ride them in the night. The character himself is friendly but as well as controvesrial, as stealing horses is a crime in Kyrgyzstan, even in the 21st century. But the hero sticks to old times, where all people has been families and living in tents, and horses with wings were the gate to heaven.

The movie has a lot of modern, western elements, which makes it much more accesible, comparable to some of the kyrgiz movies from the past - its not an art movie at all, it is the visible evolution of the Kyrgyz cinema.

I´ve bee living in Kyrgyzstan for a year. Know all the areas and beautiful landscapes. I was watching kyrgyz movies ten years back, and I have to say I havent had high expectations for "Centaur". But the movie became such an lovely cinema experience for me that I felt like to be there in this beautiful country.

Greetings to Ernest Abdyjaparov from David.

A film who I adore it. for special form of poetry of story. for the fine portrait of outsider. for the great photography. for the admirable, touching end. it is not easy to say why "Centaur" is special. because it is not the film who you expect. the embroidery of crumbs of myth, a poor family, the dreams about a legendary age, the games with the son and their heart are pieces defining this ppure gem.