ADILKHAN YERZHANOV | KAZAKHASTAN | 2014 | 93' | KAZAKH, RUSSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Housing shortage is a huge problem in Kazakhstan. In the past decade, home prices have risen 600% and many families are forced to live in places that are far too small for their needs. And that's only if they have a home at all ... In addition to that, the justice system isn't working as it should, which makes it even more difficult for ordinary people to find a decent place to live.
The housing shortage is a recurring issue in Adilkhan Yerzhanov's films. In Constructors two brothers and their sister are faced with all kinds of complicated housing problems and in his newest film, the black comedy The Owners, this happens all over again - with the same characters who face the same problems, more or less.
25-year-old John, his teenage brother Erbol and their epileptic 12-year-old sister Aliya are evicted from their home in Almaty. Fortunately, their deceased mother has left them a small house in the countryside. However, upon their arrival, it turns out the house already has an inhabitant: Zhuba, the alcoholic brother of the local police chief. He has been living there for ten years and has no intentions whatsoever to move out. To make things worse, Zhuba has a famously short temper. John does what he can to get their property back, but the authorities are rather unwilling to lend assistance.
Screenings:
Venue: Rialto
FRI 15 AUG – 19.30 
SAT 16 AUG – 17.15
Venue: De Balie
SUN 24 AUG – 19.00