Review of Tulpan (2009) by Alex L — 28 May 2009

This is one of my favorite movies ever. The story was authentic and touching. It moved forward not by fake special effects, but through true to life events that demonstrated universal themes of love, desire, dreams, and what happens when we get or don't get the things we wish for.

The setting was the steppes of Kazakhstan, with swirling sand storms, herds of sheep, very low population density. One of this film's many accomplishments is to not only present this setting as compelling, but to point out that in many ways the steppe is more interesting than the city!

Watching scenes of swirling sand, extending up to the sky as far as we could see, I was reminded that Kazakhstan was the departure point of the first space launch. I think the launch site was actually not too far from where this movie was filmed. On the surface, it may seem like a coincidence. How could a rural desert or millions of square miles of sand and tumbleweeds have anything to do with the seemingly urban science and technology that would launch humans into outer space?!

However, I don't think it is a coincidence. As this movie shows, the Kazakh steppe is the most logical place for the Earth's connection to the universe because it is an ancient place where you look up and feel you are right next to the stars, where absence of cities hones dreams and hopes into something almost palpable. As this movie shows, especially for young people living in Kazakhstan steppe, it would make perfect sense to consider blasting off into space. The universe is everywhere you look, unlike cities where buildings and rush of daily life closes off one's horizons.

After spending two hours in Kazakhstan, and seeing there are such sublime experiences out there, it is hard to return to life in the Western World and ascribe much honesty to it.