A Call to Father

This is the story of a six-year-old boy who lived in a formerly prosperous mining village, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the mine was closed and his father and mother were left without work. His father earns by selling bricks of abandoned houses. The boy lives in his fictional world. He dreams about school, but he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This diagnosis is made by a local doctor at the beginning of the film. This is the beginning of his drama.

Directed by Serik Aprimov, A Call to Father leans on a strong ensemble — Yerbolat Ospankulov, Aizada Satybaldieva, Zhiger Myrzabek — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2017.