The forgotten

In the village of Zheti-Oguz, so-called “generation meetings” are regularly held to bring young and old together, creating a space where knowledge and experience can be shared across ages. Every week, Atyr Akmatalieva attends these gatherings, teaching younger participants how to decorate traditional yurts. Other members of the group pass on skills such as preparing national dishes, practicing traditional farming methods, and preserving Kyrgyz crafts and cultural heritage.

Produced by: Candofilm
Director: Michael Schmidt-Olsen
Production: 
CityLab Productions

Supported by Open – Udenrigsministeriets Oplysnings- og Engagementspulje
Distribution: Filmfreeway & Filmfest

Atyr

In the village of Zheti-Oguz, so-called “generation meetings” are regularly held to bring young and old together, creating a space where knowledge and experience can be shared across ages. Every week, Atyr Akmatalieva attends these gatherings, teaching younger participants how to decorate traditional yurts. Other members of the group pass on skills such as preparing national dishes, practicing traditional farming methods, and preserving Kyrgyz crafts and cultural heritage.

Zinaida

An elderly woman moves slowly through a stark and contrasting landscape on a rusty bicycle. She is 70-year-old Zinaida Lebedeva, and despite her age, she dedicates her days to helping others who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Every day, she cycles from house to house, delivering groceries and medicine to elderly people who can no longer shop for themselves. She helps with cleaning, small repairs, and the countless everyday tasks that have become too heavy to manage alone.

As she simply puts it: “If I don’t do it, who will?”

Lyailya

An elderly woman moves slowly through a stark and contrasting landscape on a rusty bicycle. She is 70-year-old Zinaida Lebedeva, and despite her age, she dedicates her days to helping others who find themselves in difficult circumstances. Every day, she cycles from house to house, delivering groceries and medicine to elderly people who can no longer shop for themselves. She helps with cleaning, small repairs, and the countless everyday tasks that have become too heavy to manage alone.

As she simply puts it: “If I don’t do it, who will?”