Abel

• Elzat Eskendir
• 120 min
• Kazakhstan
• 2024

Kazakhstan's social structure collapses, and shepherd Abel gasps for air as corruption threatens to destroy his farm in this poignant political drama. When the Soviet Union collapses and Kazakhstan gains independence, the entire social structure falls apart, and corruption takes over. Elzat Eskendir begins his film with an almost 14-minute long, brilliant scene where shepherd Abel watches his collective farm dissolve. As ruthless individuals then try to seize the assets, a long battle begins, with Abel and his family forced to fight against those who are far better at navigating the capitalist system. The collective farm may not have been paradise on earth, but under capitalism, it's a battle for every sheep. Abel is a harrowing drama that evokes both anger and tears.

- Freddy Olsson

• Drama
• Kapitalism
• Djur
• Landsbygd
• Samhälle
• Politik