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Angel on the Right

Play trailer Poster for Angel on the Right 2002 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Released from a Moscow prison, ex-convict Hamro (Maruf Pulodzoda) returns to the Tajikistani village of his birth to care for his frail mother, Halima (Uktamoi Miyasarova). There, Hamro reacquaints himself with old debts -- both financial and emotional -- to the corrupt mayor and to the son he has never met, Yatim (Kova Tilavpur). Hamro faces the judgment of his mother's neighbors, who know all too well about his criminal past, and worries that his days of staying straight may be numbered.

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Angel on the Right

Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Aug 19, 2004 Full Review Tom Dawson BBC.com Rated: 4/5 Aug 7, 2004 Full Review Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews An involving tale of semi-redemption in small town Tajikstan. Jan 21, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Strangely billed as a dark comedy, this quietly beautiful film follows Hamro, returning back home to his small village in Tajikistan after ten years in a Moscow jail to visit his ailing mother (and to sell her house so he can repay his debts). But it soon becomes clear that his mother and the villagers have other plans for him. A gentle tale exploring themes of moral choices and their consequences. Is it possible to change your fate? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Jamshed Usmonov from Tajikistan is one of the most notable figures of the Persian cinema. He directed the first international acclaimed film from Tajikistan, Angel on the Right. A low budget film, that was shot in Usmonov's home village Asht, and starring his own family and other villagers. Angel on the Right is the story about Hamro, who after ten years in a Russian prison returns to his home village because his mother is ill. But this is only a scam to get him back to pay for his mistakes and restore his family's honor, by taking care of his son and pay all his debt, including all the money he has borrowed from the other villagers, like the mafia for instance. Angel on the Right is a sweet little story about honor and pride. And it's certainly a new world that are shown on screen. Even though this is credited as a comedy, our focus is more on the village itself and how they live, their occupations and traditions, which is a central theme in this film. It has the rustic charm, like a Kiarostami film. It's a film that captures the post-soviet depression and poverty. It's a good film with a real moral and an authentic look. Thumbs up. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member a simple and naturalistic film. the comic element was unfortunately lost on me most of the time, but it did show itself once in a while. the plot progressed very slowly, and didn't really seem to go anywhere--I didn't really get what the film was trying to say. still, the entertainment value is passable and fans of obscure foreign cinema might well appreciate this minimalist Central Asian contribution. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Well-done movie from Tajikistan. A man returns from prison in Russia to visit his dying mother, not knowing that she and the town have a sinister plot up their sleeve. Original story & a good way to see a country that most of us may never visit. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member En kriminell sønn som vender hjem til ei mor som spiller dødende/død. Noe rar men bra. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member a simple and naturalistic film. the comic element was unfortunately lost on me most of the time, but it did show itself once in a while. the plot progressed very slowly, and didn't really seem to go anywhere--I didn't really get what the film was trying to say. still, the entertainment value is passable and fans of obscure foreign cinema might well appreciate this minimalist Central Asian contribution. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Angel on the Right

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Released from a Moscow prison, ex-convict Hamro (Maruf Pulodzoda) returns to the Tajikistani village of his birth to care for his frail mother, Halima (Uktamoi Miyasarova). There, Hamro reacquaints himself with old debts -- both financial and emotional -- to the corrupt mayor and to the son he has never met, Yatim (Kova Tilavpur). Hamro faces the judgment of his mother's neighbors, who know all too well about his criminal past, and worries that his days of staying straight may be numbered.
Director
Jamshed Usmonov
Producer
Marco Muller
Screenwriter
Jamshed Usmonov
Production Co
Ventura Film, Fabrica, Televisione Svizzera Italiana (TSI), RAI Cinema
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Tajik
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Dolby
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