The story centers on Aidai, an old Kazakh Baksy (a Kazakh word for “Shaman”) who can heal people, find their souls and tell them where their stolen cattle has been hidden. She has been living on the land of a rich businessman, Batyr, for years because that is the place she gets her strength to heal from. When the mafia colludes with local authorities to build a gas station and motel over where her house stands, Aidai is pushed out of her home and mysteriously disappears. A year later after the construction takes place, someone burns down the property. The mafia accuses Batyr, the landowner, of the incident and makes him pay for the damages. When Batyr refuses to submit, they kidnap his precious young son whom Aidai once helped and took care of. Now, Batyr must find Aidai, because only she will be able to help him find his son. Guka Omarova not only venerates the Shaman and the feminine and spiritual aspects of the lands she dwells, but also emphasizes the masculine violence of capitalism which consumes the earth and the resources. The story centers on Aidai, an old Kazakh Baksy (a Kazakh word for “Shaman”) who can heal people, find their souls and tell them where their stolen cattle has been hidden. She has been living on the land of a rich businessman, Batyr, for years because that is the place she gets her strength to heal from. When the mafia colludes with local authorities to build a gas station and motel over where her house stands, Aidai is pushed out of her home and mysteriously disappears. A year later after the construction takes place, someone burns down the property. The mafia accuses Batyr, the landowner, of the incident and makes him pay for the damages. When Batyr refuses to submit, they kidnap his precious young son whom Aidai once helped and took care of. Now, Batyr must find Aidai, because only she will be able to help him find his son. Guka Omarova not only venerates the Shaman and the feminine and spiritual aspects of the lands she dwells, but also emphasizes the masculine violence of capitalism which consumes the earth and the resources. —22nd Ankara International Film Festival
