The Stars’ Caravan

A story about the dreams and the manipulative power of films in a chaotic Kyrgyzstan, seen through the eyes of two cinema projectionists.

A SHORT SYNOPSIS

The Kyrgyz town of Naryn is preparing for the1,000 years anniversary of Manas, their national hero. The complicated preparations are upset as a group of Islamic rebels invade Kyrgyzstan.

The work and dreams of the protagonists, projectionists named Zarylbek and Murat, epitomise the present and the past Kyrgyzstan struggling through a process of transition. Through their eyes, we see a story about the manipulative power that films exert on the colourful people influenced by socialism, market economy, the Islamic faith and their nomadic culture.

A LONG SYNOPSIS

The Soviet Union developed the Kyrgyz Nomadic Cinema as a propaganda weapon, taking specially selected films by cars and horse caravans to the nomads of the rugged mountain regions. The collapse of the system and the switch to market economy following independence saw the end of the travelling cinema and a move from Soviet propaganda to American B-movie violence.

In eastern Kyrgyzstan, in the small town of Naryn, the two cinema projectionists and protagonists, Zarylbek and Myrat, represent different eras and ways of thinking. The older projectionist, Zarylbek, yearns for the Soviet system and the travelling cinema culture, whereas Murat has grown up in the new capitalist world and is more interested in western culture.

Despite the poor situation and the neglects in subsidies, the Naryn cinema is still trying to revive the cinema tours in order to continue the tradition in a community influenced by market economy, the Islamic faith and nomadic culture.

The story begins with the town of Naryn preparing for the 1,000 years anniversary of Manas, their national hero. The cinema staff plays a significant part in the organisation. The problematic preparations are further complicated as a group of Islamic rebels invade Kyrgyzstan and the country is subjected to a state of war. Hence, the heroic tale of the god-like Manas epitomises the present situation and the dreams of the protagonists Zarylbek and Murat.

Through the vicissitudes of the protagonists, The Stars’ Caravan tells about using films as a means of propaganda, their great manipulative power and their capacity to be a messenger from different cultures - subjecting the audiences both intentionally and unintentionally to mind-altering signals. At the same time, the documentary shows how strong roots can help a culturally strong community preserve its identity in the heart of this manipulation. On the other hand, it shows how a young and chaotic system is prone to the
influence of different tendencies.

Manas, the Nomadic Cinema and films convey the colourful development and history of Kyrgyzstan as the cinema caravan moves on reviving hopes and dreams.

THE PRESENT SITUATION IN KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991 when the Soviet Union had collapsed. A parliamentary system was established with president as the state leader.

With a low level of self-sufficiency and few natural resources, Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest among the former Soviet republics. Because of widespread insecurity and instability, the nation has been struggling to get on its feet.

In addition to nomadic traditions, the Islamic faith is practised widely, but its basis and traditions are not as uncompromising as in many Islamic states of the Middle East and Asia. Kyrgyzstan is a jumble of cultures and ideologies, where you can find a mixture of capitalist and socialist nomads, practising the Islamic faith while they revere the national hero Manas as a divinity.

THE NATIONAL HERO MANAS

The Kyrgyz have an exceptionally deep relationship with their national hero Manas. Manas, his son Semetei and his grandson Seitek are the subjects of the world’s largest national epic. There are many different versions and excerpts of this trilogy written in verse. The total number of verses is over a million, which means thousands of pages. Even today, the heroic story is told and studied in Kyrgyz homes and schools alike.

The so-called Manas singers are specialised in singing and performing the verses, and their tradition has survived despite the colourful past of the Kyrgyz people.

This patriotic epic poem is the spiritual source of power for the Kyrgyz: It’s their pride and hope, once considered too nationalistic during the Soviet regime. One of the epic’s guiding principles is the unification and peaceful co-existence of different tribes and peoples. The epic texture of many generations has been a frequent source of sentiments, comfort and hope for people in various situations. With its rich content, the Manas epic has become the Kyrgyz national encyclopaedia describing with bright colours the full spectrum
of their way of life. Apparently, the remote position and the harsh environment have increased the epic’s national importance and the people’s yearning for a saving hero.

The Kyrgyz have celebrated the Manas 1,000 years festivities since 1995. Each year, the the 12 counties of Kyrgyzstan take turns as the centre of celebration. In addition to written publications, Manas is honoured constantly with new art exhibitions and films.

Lately, the story of Manas has found its way even to western publications and excerpts of the epic have been translated to many different languages.

THE LAST COMPOSITION OF EDWARD VESALA

Last winter, Finnish music was dealt a serious blow with the sudden loss of its shaman, master drummer and composer Edward Vesala.Moving freely in different musical cultures of the world but having its roots deep in Finnish culture, his music lives on through his internationally renowned recordings (such as Nordic Gallery, Invisible Storm, Nan Madol, Lumi, Satu, Nana, Heavy Life, I’m here) and his successful Sound & Fury orchestra as well as his classical pieces for the orchestra. Edward Vesala’s final composition was the soundtrack of The Stars’ Caravan and he finished the theme songs only a few days before his death. Vesala’s wife and long-time assistant, Iro Haarala, worked and arranged the themes into their final form.

The Stars’ Caravan is dedicated to the memory of composer Edward Vesala.

THE LAST FILM OF HALONEN'S ASIA SERIES

The Stars’ Caravan ends the series of Arto Halonen’s Asia films. Earlier in the series, the Karmapa films were set in Tibet, India and China and A Dreamer and the Dreamtribe in the Malaysian rain forest.

Karmapa - Two Ways of Divinity is a story about two boys of god-like status, whose existence has caused a conflict in the Buddhist world and increased tension between China and Tibet.

Karmapa - A Voyage on the Roof of the World is a follow-up documentary about the colourful process of making the film Karmapa with moral conflicts putting great pressure on the film crew.

A Dreamer and the Dreamtribe tells about the extraordinary dream culture of a native tribe living in the Malaysian rain forest and the clash with western values.Halonen’s films have been screened widely in cinemas, on TV, at film festivals and seminars in different parts of the world.

In addition to the locations, his films about Asia share other themes as well: the clash of native cultures with a stronger foreign culture and the erosion of the ancient spirituality.