Baikonur

An X-Verleih, Warner Bros. relieve a Veit Helmer-Filmproduktion, in co-production with Eurasia Film Push., Tandem Push., CTB Film Co., in colaboration with eQuinoxe Germany, Babylon, Nipkow Programm as well as the Media Programme in the Eu, in co-production with Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, Bayerischer Rundfunk and Arte, while using support of Deutscher Filmfoerderfonds, Kulturelle Filmfoerderung des Bundes, Filmfoerderungsanstalt, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Wuerttemberg, Fond Kino Russia. (Worldwide sales: M-Appeal, Berlin.) Produced by Veit Helmer, Dagmar Mielke, Bettina Ricklefs, Andreas Schreitmueller, Rosemarie Wintgen. Co-producers, Anna Katchko, Gulnara Sarsenova, Sergei Selyanov. Directed by Veit Helmer. Script, Sergei Ashkenazy, Helmer.With: Alexander Asochakov, Marie p Villepin, Sitora Farmonova, Erbulat Toguzakov. (Russian, British, French, Kazakh dialogue)An incredible, lighthearted comedy-drama of a Kazakh youth passionate in regards to a lady space traveler, "Baikonur" aims for your stars and takes auds inside the moon. Delicately remaining from the issues of condescending ruralism and wide-eyed optimism, German author-director Veit Helmer supplies a elegant film that entertains and touches. Pic handled only small arthouse returns upon its September bow in Germany, but approaching Russian and Kazakh releases will earn more gold gold coin, and careful management having a savvy distrib frequently check this out follow inside the slipstream of 2008's "Tulpan" for just about any deserved work on the world arthouse circuit. Operating round the principle that "what drops within the sky's something special from God," Kazakh nomads scavenge for scrap metal one of the debris thrown off by rockets climbing within the Baikonur launchpad. Leading his tribe inside the treasure search is space-obsessed youth Iskander Orynbekov (Alexander Asochakov) nicknamed Gagarin following a Soviet cosmonaut. Gagarin monitors blast-offs via his pork radio, computes the likely drop points and coordinates conduct business along with other tribes. Gagarin's space obsession reaches greater levels when he catches sight of lovely French billionaire Julie Mahe (Marie p Villepin) on tv. Julie is most likely the most recent batch of wealthy travelers able to having to pay $20 million for just about any week's space travel beginning from Baikonur. Pic moves from charming curiosity to combine-cultural mythic when Julie falls to earth in the space capsule while watching Russian government physiques, Gagarin finds the luminous but comatose cosmonaut and hides her within the yurt. Gagarin stimulates the sleeping beauty getting a hug, despite the fact that she's grateful to become saved, she also provides amnesia. Script, co-put together by Helmer and Sergei Ashkenazy (a Russian TV director and periodic documaker) provides the occasions a feeling of authenticity, as well as the Kazakh stars receive free rein to see versions around the real selves. Overall, the pic presents an authentic understanding from the contradictions from the situation where rural people survive round the crumbs from the modern and scientifically sophisticated work force. Though sometimes tease with hokiness, the film values the predicament in the Kazakh nomads without excessively romanticizing it. Asochakov is beguiling since the Kazakh youth who wants existence beyond the confines of his village he nails the resourcefulness from the smart youthful guy, but furthermore catches the naivete someone whose encounters are limited to tribal existence. P Villepin is fantastically enchanting since the heavenly body Gagarin is most considering. Somewhat less efficient is Sitora Farmonova just like a disheveled Kazak girl who clearly fancies Gagarin not necessarily bedraggled hair flecked with camel manure can hide the actress's exquisite beauty within the audience, even if Gagarin doesn't notice it. Kolya Kano's lensing does a wonderful job of using the windswept Kazakh steppes, and NASA space footage is nicely sutured into the film without disturbing the fluid narrative. Score by Goran Bregovic is wealthy and dramatic, but can also be playful if needed. Other tech credits are solid.Camera (color, widescreen), Kolya Kano editor, Vincent Assmann music, Goran Bregovic production designers, Sonja Winzenried, Rustam Odinaev costume designer, Teona Kavelashvili, Olga Ugrovatova appear (Dolby Digital) Immo Truempelmann appear designer, Martin Fruehmorgen re-recording mixer, Robert Jaeger stunt coordinator, Jaydarbec Kunguzhinov line producer, Andrey Bulatov assistant company company directors, Artur Issabayev, Nastasja Rasdobudko, Kamilla Gabdullina, Ivan Glubokov casting, Nathalie Bialobos, Aziz Sattarov, Suse Marquard, Zora Dehorter, Timur Musakov, Nurdin Karagulov, Galina Bondareva, Dana Mussa. Examined at Busan Film Festival (World Cinema), March. 7, 2011. Running time: 92 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com