Beshkempir--The Adopted Son

Yet another "coming-of-age-in-Kyrgyzstan" tale. Beshkempir, a lumbering, somewhat peer-beset village youth, finds himself subject to the same growing pains and adolescent urges that befall most teenagers his age regardless of the locale, but with one significant difference: a trivial spat with his closest friend reveals that Beshkempir is adopted. Suddenly the child is set apart in the tightly wound small community, though--as it turns out--more in his own mind than in that of others. Though it features some beautiful b&w lensing, with occasional bursts of gorgeous color, things are mighty slow going until Beshkempir's grandmother dies, an event that brings new responsibilities, prematurely thrusting him into manhood. It's here that the film suddenly blossoms, with a lyricism and poignancy it had been previously lacking (unfortunately, the death occurs barely 15 minutes from the end of the film). While there are many small pleasures to be had in this gentle tale, particularly its lovely rendering of the cyclic nature of life in a small village, the parts are decidedly more engaging than the whole. Optional. (S. C. Sickles)