Cinema
The White Ship
Белый пароход
Bolotbek Shamshiev · 1976
Synopsis
On the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, a seven-year-old boy lives with his grandfather, Momun, his only friend, who tells him the legends of his people, among them that of the Horned Mother Deer. The child dreams of his absent father and watches a great white ship pass on the lake, which he imagines reaching by swimming, turned into a fish. Near them lives Uncle Orozkul.
Context
The film adapts Chingiz Aitmatov's novel published in 1970 in the review Novy Mir, which the writer adapted for the screen with the director. Made for Kirghizfilm, with cinematography by Manas Musayev, it was selected in 1976 for the Berlin festival. Nurgazy Sydygaliyev plays the boy, Asankul Kuttubayev Momun and Orozbek Kutmanaliyev Orozkul. The novel on which it is based appeared in French under the title Il fut un blanc navire, in a translation by Lily Denis.
Who it is for
To see one of the great Kyrgyz films, drawn from Aitmatov, between an old man's tales and a child's dreams.
Prizes and reception
At the Trento festival, in Italy, it received in 1977 the Golden Gentian, the City of Trento grand prize for the best film.