Based on Zharaskan Abdrashev’s poetry, the film is a poetic elegy about the first youthful love. The new party commander’s family arrives to a small settlement near Aralia. His daughter, Zhibek, falls in love with the native school mate Zharas. Their parents, the school direction and the inhabitants of the village don’t understand the feelings of the lovers and blame them. During the teachers’ meeting Zharas is compelled to betray his love. The boy can’t bear what he had done and leaves his native village...

Screenplay Galia Eltai, Gazi Nasyrov, Rustam Abdrashev
Photography (b/w, colour) Khasan Kydyraliev, Renat Kosai
Music Kuat Shildebaev
Sound Askar Ahmetov, Elena Maslova
Cast Temirzhan Daniyarov, Zhanel Makazhanova, Sayat Merekenov, Nurzhuman Ihtymbayev
Production NC Kazakhfilm, NPC Han Tengri
Year of production 2004
Running time 80’
Format 35mm

Rustam Abdrashev

Rustam Abdrashev was born in 1970 in Almaty (Kazakhstan). He studied jurisprudence and works as lawyer, artist, screen and TV director. Renascence Island (2004) is his directorial debut of a full-length fiction film.