“STUDENT” ***
What’s the real point of trying to overcome the fear of being a coward, and being capable of doing something cruel and extreme?
There’s a divided affection for the title protagonist in this sharp dark comedy, compiled by acclaimed Kazakh director Darezhan Omirbayev, known for his modern portraits of his country’s society, dealing with the capitalism transformation, coming out of the influences of the Soviet regime, now he takes us into a contemporary version of Dostoyevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’.
At first, Omirbayev introduces Ali, the main character as the student, in the midst of a movie shooting. An accident involving an assistant and the starlet, describes the intention of the film’s message: Ali observes a brutal action of revenge and discipline, while it really represents the clash between two social classes, where the strongest always eats the weakest.
Shocked, and feeling asphyxiated by the modern capitalism, devouring and shaping the country’s reform into individualism, he looks around to the injustices and social differences with bowed head: an elderly lady trying to get credits at a grocery store, and a poet he meets at a café, these are the crucial moments that lead him to a twisted decision.
Everything is seen ironically sarcastic, which is the highest skill in the narrative, using his actions and how he faces the transformations, to discuss social crisis. There’s an ingenuous familiarity with Ali, but suddenly his character starts to react and changes his form as the world around him also does. That, increases his intriguing figure, creating more interest to know what’s his next step. In the classroom, a teacher explains modern capitalism, and one quotes “if competition is the principle of life, then logically we come to the conclusion that it’s alright to kill your competitor”, giving the film its most particular characteristic and motivation to Ali.
The scene where a donkey is brutally beaten by a man trying to pull out his truck out of a flood, represents the struggle of the weakest, the corruption, and social changes, the lack of respect, compassion and moral, in a modern world fed up with capitalism.
Omirbayev deserves attention to his messages of great social importance, and with sounds and reminiscences of anarchy and clever humor, conceived an interesting look at a society learning how to survive and adapt to the rules of the game.
(Opens Tomorrow at Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Avenue, NYC. www.anthologyfilmarchives.org)
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