Dreamer and eternal optimist, Asa embarks on his goal of owning a steppe, herd, and finding a wife to aid him. To Asa the desolate landscape of rural Kazakhstan is awash with opportunity, in reality it’s depleted of available women. Tulpan is the name of the only unmarried woman left and she’s not very fond of Asa, she refuses to see or speak to him. Nonetheless, Asa falls in love and aims to woo her so he can begin the life he’s always dreamed of.
Documentary director Sergei Dvortsevoy naturally brings a touch of realism when capturing life on a Kazakh steppe. Every character (and animal) is lovingly crafted, no matter how minor, and given a memorably unique personality which radiates amongst the harsh conditions. Even the vicious and beautiful landscape is given a life of its own via the roar of the wind and the dance of a sandstorm.
Gentle comedy, served deadpan, slips seamlessly into an already heart-warming story. Charismatic performances help you sympathize with Asa’s desires and the pleasures of living on barren plains. Tulpan might not knock you over with feel-good feelings, however it gets under your skin as a film about a way of life, one where no matter how tough, you should never give up on your dreams. In a wondrous moment, as we witness a lamb’s birth, Tulpan breathes new life into the film and it becomes more than a light-hearted comedy about unrequited love, it transforms into a serious piece of cinema.
