THE LIGHT THIEF
Original Title: Svet-Ake
a film by AKTAN ARYM KUBAT
Year: 2010
Format: 35mm 1:1,85 Color
Original Language: Kyrgyz
Length: 80 min
Original Title: Svet-Ake
a film by AKTAN ARYM KUBAT
Year: 2010
Format: 35mm 1:1,85 Color
Original Language: Kyrgyz
Length: 80 min
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
Examined Life takes philosophy out of the darkened corners of academia and into the hustle and bustle of the everyday, a visual reminder that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the world around us.
Featuring the “rock star” philosophers of our time, including Cornel West, Peter Singer, Slavoj Zizek, Judith Butler, Avital Ronell, Michael Hardt, Anthony Appiah and Martha Nussbaum.
Long Synopsis
UPCOMING SCREENINGS:
Cinematheque Winnipeg - March 4 & 5 @ 7pm, 2009
Cinema Village, NYC - Opens March 6 (1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:20 PM 7:20 PM 9:20 PM)
Pacific Cinematheque - March 20 - 25, 2009
Cinema du Parc, Montreal, March 23 - 26 @ 9pm
Bytowne Cinema - March 22 - 25, 2009
Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon - March 9 - 12, 2009
Art Gallery of Hamilton - March 25, 2009
Cinecenta, Victoria - April 1 & 2, 2009
Cinema du Parc, Montreal - April 3 - 9
Regina Public Library, Regina, SK - April 4 & 5, 2009
Metro Cinema, Edmonton, April 18 - 20, 2009
View screenings in the United States, courtesy Zeitgeist Films!
View complete Showtimes for all films!
PREVIOUS SCREENINGS:
The Royal, Toronto - Opening Jan 23, 2009 - EXTENDED TO FEB 5th!
Friday @ 7, Saturday @ 7, Sunday @ 4:30 & 7, Monday @ 7, Tuesday @ 7 & 9:30, Wednesday @ 7, Thursday @ 7 & 9
(Panel follows Jan. 27, 7pm screening, on the intersection of public space & intellectual pursuits, featuring Astra Taylor, Jane Farrow, Deborah Cowen, Kanishka Goonewardena and Doug Hutchinson. Filmmaker Q&A on Sat, Sun & Mon.
Kingsway Theatre, Toronto: Jan 30 - Feb 5, 2009 - Nightly at 9pm - 2nd Theatre Added!
Regent Theatre, Toronto: Feb. 6 - 12, 2009
Western Arctic Moving Pictures Film Festival, Feb. 8, 2009 - 7pm
City Cinema, Charlottetown - Feb 11 - 15, 2009
Port Moody, B.C. Film Festival - Feb. 12 - 21, 2009
View complete Showtimes for all films!
Examined Life takes philosophy out of the darkened corners of academia and into the hustle and bustle of the everyday, a visual reminder that great ideas are born through profound engagement with the world around us.
Long Synopsis
UPCOMING SCREENINGS:
Cinematheque Winnipeg - March 4 & 5 @ 7pm, 2009
Cinema Village, NYC - Opens March 6 (1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:20 PM 7:20 PM 9:20 PM)
Pacific Cinematheque - March 20 - 25, 2009
Cinema du Parc, Montreal, March 23 - 26 @ 9pm
Bytowne Cinema - March 22 - 25, 2009
Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon - March 9 - 12, 2009
Art Gallery of Hamilton - March 25, 2009
Cinecenta, Victoria - April 1 & 2, 2009
Cinema du Parc, Montreal - April 3 - 9
Regina Public Library, Regina, SK - April 4 & 5, 2009
Metro Cinema, Edmonton, April 18 - 20, 2009
View screenings in the United States, courtesy Zeitgeist Films!
View complete Showtimes for all films!
PREVIOUS SCREENINGS:
The Royal, Toronto - Opening Jan 23, 2009 - EXTENDED TO FEB 5th!
Friday @ 7, Saturday @ 7, Sunday @ 4:30 & 7, Monday @ 7, Tuesday @ 7 & 9:30, Wednesday @ 7, Thursday @ 7 & 9
(Panel follows Jan. 27, 7pm screening, on the intersection of public space & intellectual pursuits, featuring Astra Taylor, Jane Farrow, Deborah Cowen, Kanishka Goonewardena and Doug Hutchinson. Filmmaker Q&A on Sat, Sun & Mon.
Kingsway Theatre, Toronto: Jan 30 - Feb 5, 2009 - Nightly at 9pm - 2nd Theatre Added!
Regent Theatre, Toronto: Feb. 6 - 12, 2009
Western Arctic Moving Pictures Film Festival, Feb. 8, 2009 - 7pm
City Cinema, Charlottetown - Feb 11 - 15, 2009
Port Moody, B.C. Film Festival - Feb. 12 - 21, 2009
View complete Showtimes for all films!
SYNOPSIS:
They call him "Svet-ake" ("Mr. Light"). The electrician is responsible for bringing more than just light to the people around him. Like moths, everybody is drawn to his kindness: those with short circuits in their electricity, and those with short circuits in their marriage, those who have taken all the power in the city, and those who have given up the will to live. He helps everyone and is everywhere. He doesn't even shy from breaking the law, rewinding an old and lonely pensioner's electricity meter so that he doesn't owe the State, but rather the State owes him.
The economic devastation of the country has had an enormous impact on the working people and yet despite the upheaval they have not lost the ability to love, to suffer, to share their lives with friends, and enjoy what they have... in particular our resilient electrician who possesses a wonderful and open heart. He not only brings electric light (which is often out) to the lives of the inhabitants of this village, but he also spreads the light of love, loyalty, life, and most of all, lots of laughter.
He only has two dreams: to someday have a son and to provide people with cheaper energy through wind power.
The country is the midst of a revolution. Power lies in the hands of greed-driven people, obsessed with their personal enrichment. "Svet-ake" is a resistance against this dark madness. He who brings the light, takes it away, leaving the darkness in the dark. Only the light of the dream remains glowing in the night; a candle of a very delicate hope.
About the Director:
Aktan gained international attention for his work, winning the Golden Leopard of the Future at Locarno in 1993 for “The Swing” and the Silver Leopard for “The Adopted Son” in 1998. In 2001, he was nominated for the European Film Academy (EFA) Discovery Award. His films have been screened at various international film festivals and have received multiple awards.
Aktan was born in 1957 in Kyrgyzstan and graduated from the Art Academy in Bishkek (formerly Frunze). He started working as a production designer in the 1980’s, writing his first screenplay in 1995. He has been working as a director since 1992.
Selected Filmography
2009 »The Mother's Heaven« - feature film
2001 »The Chimp« (Maimil) - feature film
1998 »The Adopted Son« (Beshkempir) - feature film
1997 »Hasan Husen« - short film
1995 »Bus Stop« (Beket) - short film
1993 »The Swing« - 48 minutes feature
1992 »Where's Your Home, Snail?« (Gde tvoy dom, ulitka?) - feature film
UPCOMING SCREENINGS!
Regina Public Library: May 19 - 22
PREVIOUS SCREENINGS
Toronto International Film Festival
Friday September 10 @ 6:00PM - AMC 4
Saturday September 11 @ 9:30AM - AM AMC 3
Calgary International Film Festival: Buy Tix Online!
Sunday, Oct. 3, 04:45pm - Eau Claire Market - Cineplex Odeon - #2
TIFF/ Bell Lightbox, Toronto - Opens Nov 18
Daily at 1:30pm & 8:25pm. Sat and Sunday add 5pm
Fire Hall Films, Yukon Film Society: Feb 12
Bytowne Cinema, Ottawa: Feb 25 - 28
Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon: March 18 - 30
The economic devastation of the country has had an enormous impact on the working people and yet despite the upheaval they have not lost the ability to love, to suffer, to share their lives with friends, and enjoy what they have... in particular our resilient electrician who possesses a wonderful and open heart. He not only brings electric light (which is often out) to the lives of the inhabitants of this village, but he also spreads the light of love, loyalty, life, and most of all, lots of laughter.
The country is the midst of a revolution. Power lies in the hands of greed-driven people, obsessed with their personal enrichment. "Svet-ake" is a resistance against this dark madness. He who brings the light, takes it away, leaving the darkness in the dark. Only the light of the dream remains glowing in the night; a candle of a very delicate hope.
About the Director:
Aktan gained international attention for his work, winning the Golden Leopard of the Future at Locarno in 1993 for “The Swing” and the Silver Leopard for “The Adopted Son” in 1998. In 2001, he was nominated for the European Film Academy (EFA) Discovery Award. His films have been screened at various international film festivals and have received multiple awards.
Aktan was born in 1957 in Kyrgyzstan and graduated from the Art Academy in Bishkek (formerly Frunze). He started working as a production designer in the 1980’s, writing his first screenplay in 1995. He has been working as a director since 1992.
Selected Filmography
2009 »The Mother's Heaven« - feature film
2001 »The Chimp« (Maimil) - feature film
1998 »The Adopted Son« (Beshkempir) - feature film
1997 »Hasan Husen« - short film
1995 »Bus Stop« (Beket) - short film
1993 »The Swing« - 48 minutes feature
1992 »Where's Your Home, Snail?« (Gde tvoy dom, ulitka?) - feature film
UPCOMING SCREENINGS!
Regina Public Library: May 19 - 22
PREVIOUS SCREENINGS
Toronto International Film Festival
Friday September 10 @ 6:00PM - AMC 4
Saturday September 11 @ 9:30AM - AM AMC 3
Calgary International Film Festival: Buy Tix Online!
Sunday, Oct. 3, 04:45pm - Eau Claire Market - Cineplex Odeon - #2
TIFF/ Bell Lightbox, Toronto - Opens Nov 18
Daily at 1:30pm & 8:25pm. Sat and Sunday add 5pm
Fire Hall Films, Yukon Film Society: Feb 12
Bytowne Cinema, Ottawa: Feb 25 - 28
Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon: March 18 - 30
THE LIGHT THIEF (Trailer) from filmswelike on Vimeo.
