Ala Kachuu – Take and Run

Ala Kachuu – Take and Run
Promotional poster
Directed byMaria Brendle
Written byMaria Brendle
Produced byNadine Lüchinger
Flavio Gerber
Mariana Méndez (executive producer)
CinematographyGabriel Sandru
Edited byLuca Zuberbühler
Music byMartin Skalsky
Production
company
Filmgerberei
Distributed bySalaud Morisset
Release date
  • August 2020 (2020-08)
Running time
38 minutes
CountrySwitzerland
LanguageKirgyz

Ala Kachuu – Take and Run is a 2020 Swiss short film directed by Maria Brendle and produced by Nadine Lüchinger and Flavio Gerber, Filmgerberei. The film is about a Kyrgyz girl who falls victim to bride kidnapping (Kyrgyz: Ala Kachuu).[1][2]

Ala Kachuu has been shown at the Oscar qualifying festivals 11th BronzeLens Film Festival, 45th Cleveland International Film Festival, 16th HollyShorts Film Festival and the 38th Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival. It has been nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[3]

Plot

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Sezim (Alina Turdumamatova) wants to fulfill her dream of studying in the Kyrgyz capital when she gets kidnapped by a group of young men and taken to the hinterland. There, she is forced to marry a stranger. If she refuses the marriage, she is threatened with social stigmatization and exclusion. Torn between her desire for freedom and the constraints of Kyrgyz culture, Sezim desperately seeks for a way out.[2][4][5][6]

Background

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The 38-minute short film deals with bride kidnapping (Kyrgyz: Ala Kachuu), a form of forced marriage. The custom is heavily criticized, but is still widespread in Kyrgyz society. The film's title is based on the Kyrgyz term for bride kidnapping, which translates as "grab and run."[7][8]

Maria Brendle motivation behind the short film was that the custom of bride kidnapping, despite its high incidence, is largely unknown outside the affected countries. She wants to use the short film to draw attention to the fate of the victims in order to bring more attention to them.[9][10]

Cast

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  • Alina Turdumamatova: Sezim
  • Nurbek Esengazy Uulu: Dayrbek
  • Madina Talipbekova: Aksana
  • Aybike Erkinbekova: Aygul
  • Jandat Djamanbaeva: Grandmother
  • Taalaykan Abazova: Sezim's Mother
  • Sheker Joomartova: Dayrbek's Mother

Premiere

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The short film had its world premiere at the 38th Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2020 and was awarded the Marlyn Mason Award - First Prize for new voices and new perspectives by women in film at its premiere.[11]

Awards

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Year Presenter/Festival Award/Category Status
2021 Cleveland International Film Festival Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film Won[12]
Rhode Island International Film Festival Best Short Film Won[13]
Durban International Film Festival Best Short Film Won[14]
DC Shorts Film Festival Audience Award Won[15]
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Platinum Remi Won[16]
Newport Beach Film Festival Narrative Short Won[17]
2022 Oscars Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film Nominated[18]

References

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  1. ^ Gilles, Jim (6 October 2021). "TAKE AND RUN (Ala Kachuu): An Award-Winning Film from Kyrgyzstan - The Hollywood Times". Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  2. ^ a b "Den Frauen eine Stimme geben". e-journal.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. ^ Cohn, Gabe (February 8, 2022). "2022 Oscars Nominees List". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "SWISS FILMS FICTION FALL 2020 by SWISS FILMS - Issuu". issuu.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  5. ^ "Matinee im Kino zum Thema Brautraub". Brugg (in German). September 1, 2021. p. 19.
  6. ^ Bracher, Katharina (December 2020). "Gestohlene Bräute". NZZ am Sonntag Magazin (in German). p. 16.
  7. ^ Mondello, Mauro (2021-08-30). "Kidnapped, raped and wed against their will: Kyrgyz women's fight against a brutal tradition". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  8. ^ "Spotlight on the 15th Annual Alexandria Film Festival". www.connectionnewspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  9. ^ Arndt, Isabelle (2020-08-31). "Mühlhausen-Ehingen: "Und auf einmal ist das Leben vorbei": Regisseurin aus Mühlhausen inszeniert Brautraub in Kirgistan". SÜDKURIER Online (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  10. ^ "Zur Ehe entführt". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). ISSN 1422-9994. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  11. ^ "2020 RIIFF Awards". film-festival.org. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  12. ^ "Winners - Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 30 - April 10, 2022". www.clevelandfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  13. ^ "Ala Kachuu – Take and Run". swissfilms (in French). Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  14. ^ "Durban International Film Festival announces awards winners and adds three new categories – Durban Film Festival". Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  15. ^ "DC Shorts International Film Festival 2021". dcshorts2021.eventive.org. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  16. ^ "54th Annual Wordlfest Winners – WorldFest Houston Film Festival". Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  17. ^ Festival, Newport Beach Film (2021-11-04). "22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Announces 2021 Award Winners". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  18. ^ Davis, Clayton (2022-02-09). "Oscars Predictions: Best Live Action Short". Variety. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
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