From Kazakhstan’s leading cineaste, Adilkhan Yerzhanov comes a sequel to his previous work The Constructors(2012). This film recalls Aki Kaurismaki’s continuously absurd situations and cynical humor, and Emir Kusturica’s carnivalesque magical realism. The penniless John who has a criminal record leaves his Kazakh house with his aspiring actor, younger brother, Erbol and sickly, younger sister, Aliya for the country house their mother left them. But alcoholic Zhuba who lived there illegally for 10 years, has no intention of handing the house over to them. With the backup of his District Officer older brother, Zhuba puts up an ugly fight with the family. The villagers’ dispute over the two families’ claim to the land displays a microcosm of the numerous nations at war. As a funny yet sad, satirically cutting, drama of absurdity, the film presents odd and beautiful visual imagery consisting of fantastic van Gogh-like colors decorating the static, stretching shots and close-ups that set an artificial tone to characters. The elaborate sound designs adds to the artistic sensibility of the film. (Minah JEONG)