Ashim Dzhakypbekov

Although they used to be a couple, time has changed everything for Alym and Salima. Seeing how happy she is without him, Alym realizes he might be a failure.

Directed by Bolotbek Shamshiyev, the movie shows Kyrgyzstan under early Soviet rule; and tells us about opium contrabanda across the border.

A village boy awaits his father's return from the front. Though he doesn't yet know the alphabet, he begins composing letters and enrolls in school early to learn to write. He believes the Moon Witch — a figure from a fairytale — is behind all the misfortunes of war. In his dreams, he battles her on the moon as she casts black letters — death notices — down to Earth...

The death of their exceptional father shakes the Shatmanov family to its core, forcing them to reflect on the past and future. Erkin, who has built a life in Moscow, faces criticism from relatives who see him as having betrayed his roots. Yet his love and work keep him tied to the city. This film delves into the inner struggles of a modern man torn between duty and belonging.