Global Lens 2011-2012 – The Light Thief
Director: Aktan Arym Kubat
Kyrgyzstan | 2010 | 80 minutes
Kyrgyz, with subtitles in English
In this colorful modern-day parable of good and evil, a humble village electrician devotes his compassion and ingenuity to destitute neighbors in a wind-swept valley of Kyrgyzstan. Played with wry humanity by writer-director Aktan Arym Kubat, the trusting Mr. Light strikes a suspect bargain with a rich developer running for local office, as unemployment threatens the survival of the community. Stoking a dream to supply wind-generated electricity to the whole valley, the modest visionary comes up against an increasingly dark cloud of corruption in this affecting tale of solidarity and ordinary decency amid the injustices and hardships of a changing world.
The Bates College Museum of Art presents GLOBAL LENS 2011-2012
Organized by the Global Film Initiative, the series draws from cinematic talent across the planet, with a focus on Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Ten feature length films comprise the 2011 series.