Heaven Is Beneath Mother's Feet

Heaven Is Beneath Mother's Feet
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRuslan Akun
Written byRuslan Akun
Emil Esenaliev
Produced byTugolbay Koychiev
Aziza Khalbekova[1]
StarringEmil Esenaliev
CinematographyKalmatov Kanybek
Release date
  • March 1, 2024 (2024-03-01)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryKyrgyzstan
LanguageKyrgyz

Heaven Is Beneath Mother's Feet (Kyrgyz: Бейиш - эненин таманында) is a 2024 Kyrgyzstani drama film directed by Ruslan Akun and written by Akun and Emil Esenaliev.[2] Starring Esenaliev accompanied by Anarkul Nazarkulova and Bolot Tentimyshov.[3] It is about a man with an intellectual disability who will take his mother to Mecca so she can go to paradise.

It was selected as the Kyrgyzstani entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[4]

Synopsis

Adil is a 35-year-old man with intellectual disability who lives with his 75-year-old mother, Raikhan, in a small town. She always tells Adil that he will go straight to heaven, but he doesn't want to go without his mother's presence. One day, an 8-year-old boy tells him that if he takes his mother to the Holy City of Mecca for the Hajj, then she will go to heaven. As a result, Adil undertakes a journey on foot to the place while carrying his mother in a wheelbarrow.[5]

Cast

  • Emil Esenaliev as Adil
  • Anarkul Nazarkulova as Raikhan
  • Bolot Tentimyshov

Production

Principal photography took place in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.[6]

Release

It premiered on March 1, 2024, in Kyrgystani theaters,[7] then was released on March 21, 2024, in Kazakh theaters,[8] and on April 11, 2024, in Russian and Uzbek theaters.[9][10]

Reception

Box-office

The film established itself as one of the highest-grossing films of 2024 in the Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan market.[2] After 4 days of its release in Kazakhstan, it grossed ₸454 million tenge (just over $1 million),[11] surpassing Dune: Part Two, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in grosses.[12]

Accolades

Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2024 3rd International Film Festival in Good Direction - Russia Grand Prize Ruslan Akun Won [13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Feature film "Heaven under the feet of mothers". Retrieved 2024-08-24 – via Kalmatov.com.
  2. ^ a b "Руслан Акун: Өз жерибизде эле оокат кылсак Кудай берекесин берет" (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  3. ^ "Фильмы". Kinobox. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  4. ^ "Фильм Руслана Акуна "Бейиш эненин таманында" будет представлен на соискание премии "Оскар"". AKIpress News Agency. August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Кыргызстанский фильм "Бейиш эненин таманында" покажут в кинотеатрах по всей России". kaktus.media (in Russian). 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  6. ^ "Kyrgyzstan's blockbuster film is a moving tale of the bond between a mother and son". Global Voices. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  7. ^ Akhmetkali, Aibarshyn. "Kyrgyz Cinema Days Open in Astana with Dazzling Mother-Son Pilgrimage Story". The Astana Times.
  8. ^ "Kyrgyz cinema in Kazakhstan". Qazaq Culture. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  9. ^ "Фильм Руслана Акуна "Бейиш эненин таманында" выйдет в широкий прокат в России". 24.kg (in Russian). 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  10. ^ "Бейиш - эненин таманында тасмасы тууралуу 17 чындык". Limon.kg. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  11. ^ Жангазиев, Максат (2024-03-30). "Кавказга чейин чыксак дейбиз. Эне тууралуу тасманын ийгилиги". Азаттык Υналгысы (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  12. ^ "Бейиш – эненин таманында тасмасы Голливуддан да алдыга чыкты". Eurasia Today. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  13. ^ "Фильм "Рай под ногами матерей" получил Гран-при Фестиваля правильного кино". TACC (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  14. ^ "Кыргызстандык режиссёр Р.Акундун "Бейиш эненин таманында" тасмасы III Эл аралык кинофестивалдын Гран-приси менен сыйланды" (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 2024-08-24.