It's often frustrating how the worst aspects of society always hides behind the word "Tradition". It's a word that demands respect and servitude enough to nullify all avenues of criticisms. And one of the greatest examples of this on film is this year's Ala Kachuu - Take and Run by director Maria Brendle.
Ala Kachuu is about the very (locally) common tradition of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan. We follow 19-year old Sezim, as portrayed brilliantly by actress Alina Turdumamatova, her abduction and marriage to her abductor, and the pressures of tradition and family that falls on the young girl who was never meant to be where she is. What seems like the most obvious violation of one's right to choose their future is in fact praised and cheered on for the sake of tradition, and seeing it unfold on screen with the realization that this exaggeration(?) mirrors real life for hundreds and thousands of young girls in Kyrgyzstan is just an infuriatingly difficult pill to swallow.
Ala Kachuu is a success in every front. From its on screen performances to its off screen technical detail... the movie pretty much sums up how effective this format of filmmaking can be. Nominated for "Best Live Action Short Film" for the 2022 Academy Awards, Ala Kachuu is most definitely the best of the lot. I don't think this movie has any shot winning the award however, with (the massively overrated) "The Long Goodbye" being the clear frontrunner in terms of the type of short films the Academy rewards, but that doesn't discount the brilliance that is Ala Kachuu.
It's definitely worth the watch!
