Deal at the Border

No good deed goes unpunished in Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi’s thriller.

“There are lots of people like her, you can’t save them all.”

The borders between countries are some of the most policed and often dangerous places in the world. From the deadly DMZ between both Koreas, to the politically charged one between the USA and Mexico, borders are always a hot button topic, and hotspots for crime of all kinds, notably trafficking and smuggling.

This is the world that drug smuggler Aza (Abylai Marat) inhabits. He earns his living at the border, sneaking in drugs with his partner Samat (Omurbek Izrailov) for crime lord Edil (Jenishbek Smanov). While waiting for their ride, the two men encounter a young woman called Nazik (Begayim Asanakunova ) who has escaped from human traffickers. they help her, but this doesn’t go over well with their bosses, and Nazik is soon killed by border guards.

Feeling guilt, Aza goes against his boss and attempts to find people from Nazik’s village, to give her a proper send-off, risking both his position and life. From this, I was expecting a film that really delved into political themes, and while Deal at the Border touches on those topics, it’s more interested in telling stories of Kyrgyz people surviving, doing what they can. It’s a character study as well as a snapshot of how Kyrgyzstan, in the eyes of the film at least, is a hotbed of crime, corruption and poverty. It is not a kind portrayal of the country, and it’s sometimes unclear if this is Aza’s point of view, or the directors.

Nevertheless, where it shines is in how Deal at the Border knows how to set a mood. An extended silent driving sequence tells us more about the characters in the scene than any amount of dialogue. It’s all down to Ryskeldi’s direction and his ability to get what he needs from his stars. That strength, couple with Balasagyn Musaev’s excellent, evocative score pulls the film through some story beats that might go on a bit long, and or seem less than original.

Like its main characters, it’s a flawed film. It doesn’t do that much to really sell us on the relatinship between the two smugglers, which doesn’t seem to be a huge deal at first. It’s a lot later when their friendship is made a bigger part of the story that it seems like some set-up was missing. Samat is a bit of a non-character in a lot of scenes, but the two leads play off each other well and sell their connection. That we’re able to feel this (even if it’s not always clear) is a mark of a film that’s well-made, even if the script sometimes feels a little undercooked.

Verdict: Occasionally straddling the border between tedious and riveting, A Deal at the Border is a pretty strong film bolstered by some top-notch performances, and is a fine taste of Kyrgz cinema.

Overall entertainment: 7/10
Violence: 4/10
Sex: 0/10
Score: 8/10
Funerals: Just grab whoever you can find from the local area
Helping people: Honestly not worth it

Director: Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi
Writers: Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi, Aktan Ryskeldiev

CAST

Abylai Marat – Aza
Omurbek Izrailov – Samat
Meerim Atantaeva – Meerim
Begayim Asanakunova – Nazik
Jenishbek Smanov – Edil
Atai Omurbekov – Bakha
Akylbek Murataliev – Kubrat