PNCA to screen Kazakhstani historical film on Saturday

Legendary Kazakh hero Sartay (R) (Asylkhan Tolepov) sits with his beloved Zere (Aliya Telebarisova) near the Big Almaty Lake in the Tian Shan Mountains where the film Myn Bala was shot in June 2011. (Handout photo provided by Reuters)

• The film is based on actual events of the eighteenth century war fought between the Kazakhs and the Dzhungars
• Film screening will be followed by a photo exhibition “Kazakhstan Through Centuries” to present glimpse into lifestyle and culture of Kazakhstan

ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan’s historical film “MYN BALA: Warriors of the Steppe” will be screened in Islamabad on Saturday in joint collaboration with the Embassy of Republic of Kazakhstan and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The movie is a dramatic depiction of actual events which occurred during the eighteenth century war fought between the Kazakhs and the Dzhungars. The title of the film is translated as “The Thousand Boys” who fought for freedom and independence of their motherland.
The film was selected as the Kazakhstani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. It was made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence from the Soviet Union.
A historic adventure film shot in Kazakhstan by director Akan Satayev, it is a story about the freedom of the human spirit and the struggle against slavery.
The film revolves around the life of young Sartai, a Kazakh teenager confronted with a war, his love and betrayal who discovers his own strength, and assembles a detachment of teenage warriors called ‘myn bala’ (‘a thousand boys’ in Kazakh). They would become legends, playing a decisive role in the liberation of Kazakhstan from its oppressors.
The country had already been suffering for years from the devastating occupation by a powerful tribe called Dzhungars. Dzhungar troops had taken over ancient Kazakh lands and a third of the nation had perished. The screening is supported by the “Kazakh Film Studios.”
The film screening will be followed by a photo exhibition “Kazakhstan Through Centuries” featuring historical moments, traditions, cultural values, religious convictions, life style and other images of Kazakhstan.