Takhir and Zukhra Don't Cry

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WIDTH="588"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="588" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="588"><div> Central Asian Cinema </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Among the sixteen feature offerings of the films of Central Asia currently touring the United States are these two very different presentations showcasing the rich diversity in style and substance of films from the sovereigns of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tadjikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.  It may come a surprise that this remote (to American audiences) part of the world produces such sophisticated, intricate movies, and has been for many years.  Sometimes a profoundly moving experience comes from and an unexpected form.  One such is <I>Don't Cry (2003)</I>, the simple story of Maria, an opera singer whose home is in China.  Advised by the doctor that she must take a year off from singing or risk losing her voice permanently, she has come to Kazakhstan to live for a year with two relatives, her old grandmother and her 7 year old niece Bibinur.  </div> <bR> <div> Living a simple life, she fetches water from the spring, teaches Bibinur counting using corn kernels before they meet the primitive grindstone, and getting silly at the kitchen table.  When Bibinur falls seriously ill, it becomes a story of what one woman does to save a child through scenes of daily life.  Maria's efforts to try to obtain enough money to buy the medicine she needs include going to the village market to sell her opera gowns and a detailed sequence of her going to the clinic to sell her blood.  Touching and real, without a trace of the mawkishness so many American movies employ, the deep humanity mined touches the universal spirit. </div> <bR> <div> This family is so like any family in any country, a film such as this is a bridge to understanding how alike we all are as humans, how small our world, and perhaps how we squander in the US that which would be life saving to a child in Kazakhstan. </div> <bR> <div> A very different film in the series is the 1945 costume period drama from director Nabi Ganiev, <I>Takhir and Zukhra (</I>Uzbekistan, 92 min)<I>.  </I>What might be described as <I>Romeo and Juliet</I> meets the <I>Thief of Baghdad</I>, this little seen, elegant, and well-produced story of star-crossed lovers is a gem.  Complete with a power hungry vizar, a coincidence of birth that links lovers Takhir and Zukhra forever, innocence versus evil, and enough action to satisfy, this film is an interesting addition to the more recently made fare in the series.  Showing this week at the Gene Siskel Film Center in a flawless, crisp, black and white print, it's a delightful surprise to discover a polished film with all the classic elements of a 1940's romantic adventure tale of honor, revenge and doomed love.  An engaging plot, fine, understated performances, lush set and costume designs make for great entertainment, not necessarily Hollywood style.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> Shelley Cameron <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >Ó</FONT> 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="mailto:shlcameron@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:shlcameron@aol.com"><U><U>Shelley@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="469" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="463"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="463" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>