Tulpan

Released Apr 1, 2009

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

List

96%

71 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Asa (Askhat Kuchinchirekov), recently released from military service, travels to the Kazakh steppes. He moves in with his sister (Samal Esljamova), her husband (Ondas Besikbasov) and their children in a small village in the dry plains. Asa dreams of becoming a shepherd, but first he needs to find a wife. The only woman available is Tulpan (Tolepbergen Baisakalov), who is initially turned off by the awkward Asa. Their relationship will determine the rest of Asa's life.

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Critics Consensus

Kazakh sheep herders get their cinematic due in this lovely, unsentimental debut from director Sergei Dvortsevoy.

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Chris Chang

Film Comment Magazine

But in addition to the brutality of Tulpan's environment, and its merciless impress on the inhabitants, the film succeeds foremost, most surprisingly, as comedy. The trials and tribulations of Asa are worthy of Samuel Beckett.

Jun 17, 2013

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Mark Peranson

Globe and Mail

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 14, 2010

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

I can't deny the fact that I'm pleasantly surprised by watching 'Tulpan', the comedy-drama by Kazakh director Sergey Dvortsevoy. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Aug 7, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Beautifully filmed and exquisitely crafted, Tulpan succeeds in its own modest and unassuming way.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 7, 2019

Full Review

Eric Hynes

Stop Smiling

From beginning to end, horizon to horizon, Dvortsevoy's film is simply a privilege to watch.

Aug 23, 2017

Full Review

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Irene M

quite immersive look into the day in the life. really makes one ponder what one's life might be like if one was born in another place.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

Full Review

david l

Following the life of herdsmen in the Kazakhstan steppe, Tulpan is a film that is difficult to watch in its realism, but also an essential look into this lesser-known culture and way of life that becomes truly touching in some of its more heartbreaking sequences. The direction, sound and imagery all worked in tandem to make this movie both artistic and strikingly memorable. The classic song Rivers of Babylon has also never been used better than in this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A masterpiece! Incredible film, totally new, incredible long takes. It's a complete joy to watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Of those rare diamonds that come out where least expected. Documentary like drama with subtle sentiment, humorous touches here and there and of course drama on the rough.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Dvortsevoy blurs the line between fiction and reality as he offers us an unforgettable peek at an almost alien universe, displaying a remarkable control of his shaky camera and capturing some incredible fortuitous shots against the barren, ruthless sight of the Kazakhstan steppe.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Sergeï Dvortsevoï

Director

Askhat Kuchinchirekov

Asa

Samal Esljamova

Samal

Ondas Besikbasov

Ondas

Tolepbergen Baisakalov

Boni

Bereke Turganbayev

Beke

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Synopsis

Asa (Askhat Kuchinchirekov), recently released from military service, travels to the Kazakh steppes. He moves in with his sister (Samal Esljamova), her husband (Ondas Besikbasov) and their children in a small village in the dry plains. Asa dreams of becoming a shepherd, but first he needs to find a wife. The only woman available is Tulpan (Tolepbergen Baisakalov), who is initially turned off by the awkward Asa. Their relationship will determine the rest of Asa's life.

Director: Sergeï Dvortsevoï
Screenwriter: Sergeï Dvortsevoï, Gennadi Ostrovsky
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films
Production Co: Pallas Film, Arte
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Russian
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 7, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $156.3K
Runtime: 1h 40m