What's On

Open Central Asia Festival Presents: Hamlet

11th October 2017 - 7:30PM

Venue: Main House

Takhir is a young man with physical disability, dreaming to become an actor. He rehearses the monologue of Hamlet - "To be or not to be?" At the same time, he sees himself as a real prince Hamlet, with whom he discusses, trying to get an answer for a question for himself – “To live or to die?”

CAST AND CREDITS:

“ARDI”

“New World Studio”

Present

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

Roles are performed by young people with special needs, students of the `"ARDI" Rehabilitation Centre (Association of Parents of Disabled Children).

Cast

Hamlet/Takhir Takhir Umarov

Ophelia/Neighbour Woman Malika Bayseitova

Bridegroom Askar Mussayev

Actor in mask Kazbek Shmadiyar

Singer Woman Damira Kunpeissova

The First Son Rakhimzhan Sartbaev

The Second Son Zhassulan Umitkazynov

The Third Son Kanagat Taskaraev

Cleopatra Dinara Sharipova

With participation of

Snow Maiden Gyuzyal Iskanova

Driver Mussymkhan Kadyrbaev

The Boy with a ball 1 Ilkham Umarov

The Boy with a ball 2 Rakhimzhan Tokhtakhunov

Written by

Azizzhan Zairov

Mukhamed Mamyrbekov

Directed by

Azizzhan Zairov

Mukhamed Mamyrbekov

Directors of photography

Kairat Temirgaliyev

Saken Bitaev

Production designer

Nataliya Bazhenova

Music by

Assel Omarova

Editor

Erkebulan Bekturov

Assistant of Director

Damir Tanatov

Cameraman

Zhandos Nedildanov

Sound Designer

Kairat Kairbekov

Costume Designer

Olga Volodina

Make-Up

Aida Shaizada

Nazira Utelbaeva

Zamira Ermagambetova

Executive Producer

Beibitzhan Muslimov

Producers

Assiya Akhtanova

Azizzhan Zairov

Color Correction

Sauran Kasteev

Props Artist

Nataliya Bazhenova

Assistant to Sound Designer

Aibek Kudabaev

Musical Editor

Dauren Kasteev

Technical Support / Credits

Mark Aliseyenko

Translators

Timur Batyrbaev

Dana Iskakova

Azalina Maksutova

Jeweler

Kanat Anitov

Psychologist

Gulnaz Kulinova

Driver

Malik Israfilov

Trainer of Pigeons

Alexander Krasnopolsky

Additional song used in the film:

«Ballad about Three Sons» by Tatiana Shilova

Recording of the Song

Khussain Khassanov

Vocal Tutor

Sabina Mussina

The monologue «To Be Or Not To Be?» from William Shakespeare’s tragedy «Hamlet. Prince of Denmark» has been used in the film.

Props provided by JSC «Kazakhfilm» National Film Studio named after

S. Aimanov» and by Kazakhstan National Academy of Arts named after T. Zhurgenov

Informational support:

«Mir» International Broadcasting Company (Journalist - Maya Tenizbaeva)

«Vremya» socio-political newspaper (Journalist - Khelcha Ismailova)

«TengriNews» Informational Agency (Journalist - Aizhan Tugelbaeva)

Gyuzyal Iskanova, Blogger

General Sponsors of the Project:

«Association of Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and Farmers» Republican Public Fund

«BENT» Joint-Stock Company

With the assistance of

«INAYAT» — Association of Public Unions

Special gratitude to:

Mr. Dilmurat Kuziyev, President of the

«Association of Industrialists, Entrepreneurs and Farmers» Republican Public Fund,

President of the Club of Philanthropists

Mrs. Elmira Kurbanova, President of the «BENT» JSC

Mr. Turganzhan Ruzakhunov, Chairman of the «INAYAT» Association

Members of the Parental Committee of «ARDI»:

Aizhan Iskanova

Gulmira Abdullaeva

Bibigul Sharipova

Parents of the actors:

Lyazzat Bayseitova

Gulmira Bayseitova

Aliya Mussaeva

Zhannat Aldabergenova

Gulmira Kassymova

Ulzhan Taskaraeva

Family of Takhir Umarov:

Mulakhun Umarov

Farkhat Umarov

Azim Umarov

Assel Umarova

Saidam Umarova

Sain Gabdullin, Producer of the «Kino Company» LLP

Aruzhan Sain, President of the «Mercy» Volunteer Society» Fund

Staff of the «ARDI» Rehabilitation Centre

Timur Batyrbayev, Media and Public Relations Specialist

Social workers:

Zhanar Ismailova

Elvira Saparova

Valentina Deryabina

Mariam Rustembekova, Head of the «Special Art» Art Studio

Dana Bazhenova, Speech therapist

Accountants:

Valentina Savelieva

Alessya Kashtanova

Whole crew of the «To Be or not to Be?» film project, for charitable work

We are for decent and independent life of children and young people with special needs!

Synopsis

Takhir is a young disabled person in a wheelchair, and he dreams to become an actor. He rehearses Hamlet's soliloquy "To be or not to be". His family goes to work and he stays at home alone. Takhir stokes the stove, cooks breakfast, feeds the dog and he goes in for sports.

And he has time for a rehearsal. There is an improvised theater in the hall; the draperies on the doors are used as the theatrical curtain. He puts on the costume of Hamlet and suddenly he notices a beautiful girl in the neighbouring dovecote in front of his house. Takhir reads the monologue of Hamlet before the girl in order to please her; he secretly falls in love with her.

Takhir reads the monologue emotionally, and the girl begins to take a delight in his talent. The neighbour girl’s eyes fill with tears and she heartily applauds to Takhir. The young man decides that he conquered her.

Takhir gives all the forces to the monologue and serenely falls asleep. In his dream Takhir sees himself in the image of the real Hamlet, he sits in a mantle in a snow-covered field and looks at theapproaching wonderful Ophelia the neighbour.

She comes to Hamlet, takes his hand and takes him away. Then there is a miracle - Hamlet gets to his feet and follows her fascination! When the mantle slips down on the snow, a wheelchair opens instead of the royal throne...

A wheelchair taxi drives up to the house of Takhir, a driver knocks on the gate and calls Takhir at his cellphone.

Hamlet and Ophelia are whirling in a waltz in the snow-white field...

Takhir, waking up, rushes to the cellphone, grabs him, but his curved fingers are not able to hold it, the phone slides out to the floor and breaks into pieces.

The wheelchair taxi driver, who could not get through to Takhir, sits in the car and drives away with a troupe of actors.

Takhir crawls out on his knees to the street, sees the leaving wheelchair taxi and screams! Takhir falls on the snow and in desperation, he beats his fist on the ground...

The neighbour comes out of her house and sees Takhir lying in the snow. She runs to him and helps get up. Their eyes meet.

She is embarrassed, and takes Takhir's hand and leads him to the house. Takhir kisses her arm. She pulls out and runs to an arriving car. The girl embraces the guy, who has got out of the car with a bouquet of roses, and they look at Takhir with a pity.

The neighbour comes up to him, puts the bouquet of roses into his hand and pats on his shoulder. Takhir discontentedly frowns and nervously tugs the shoulder. The neighbour cries and returns to her boyfriend, he puts a ring on her finger. The girl hugs the guy and smiles. Takhir stands on his knees, the bouquet of roses dangles in one arm, and another arm holds a ridiculous hat with a sticking out feather...

Takhir returns home. He enters the corridor and he falls off the wall. He throws the hat, pulls his jacket and nervously releases from sleeve. Takhir crawls on his knees in the room, throwing off from camisole. Takhir cannot unbutton the shirt, and furiously tears it, he crashes the wardrobe breaking hisfists into the blood, he notices Ophelia's picture on the table...

He goes to the table and throws the photo on the floor, and below opens the photo of his deceased mother - Takhir's hand freezes in the air...

Takhir rips off the wall photos of Hamlets, in a rage throws off the table bookshelves, chess and everything else on the floor. He falls to the floor and tears the photos of Ophelia.

Takhir crawls to the door, trying to get up and go by himself. But he falls on his back and has hysterics. Takhir bites his ugly hands and beats all his body about the floor.

Takhir, throwing a harness around his neck, hangs himself using his walkers. In the field Hamlet throws the mantle, throws his sword, admitting his defeat, he goes away...

A colourful ball flies into the Takhir's yard. There are children's voices outside the gates, the children call Takhir, ask him to return the ball. The panorama of the room: there are books lying in a mess on the floor, torn photographs, chess pieces. Takhir lies on his back, he notices the photo of the mother on the floor, picks it up and puts it on an empty table. He put the book of Shakespeare and crumpled Ophelia's photo next to it.

His crawls on his knees to the street. He takes the ball in his hands, looks to the sky and whispers "Ophelia!"

Pigeons are flying in the sky...

Hamlet thoughtfully and sadly looks at doves in the field. He falls to his knees, raising his hands to heaven and says: "…Nymph, in thy orisons be all my sins remembered.’’

Takhir goes to the gate and gives the ball to two boys. Children play soccer near the house of Takhir. Takhir sits near them and sadly watches them. One of the boys notices Takhir and kicks him the ball, Takhir draws into game. Twice he tries to catch the ball, but fails. On the third go, Takhir catches the ball. Children are rejoicing. Takhir triumphantly raises the ball over his head.

He has a happy smile on his face...