Kazakhstan’s “Cadet” Shines at the 75th Berlinale

The 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, as it is known in Germany, has officially concluded in Berlin on February 23.

Every year, the Berlinale attracts tens of thousands of movie lovers, filmmakers, and industry professionals from around the world. This year was no exception. The 10-day festival welcomed nearly half a million attendees, showcasing more than 350 films from 25 different countries. Among them was a feature from the Caspian region, representing Kazakhstan.

Kazakh director Adilkhan Yerzhanov presented his film "Cadet" in the "Forum" program. The movie had its world premiere last year at the Tokyo Film Festival and was later released in Russia. For Yerzhanov, Berlinale was a long-awaited milestone in his career.

"Getting to Berlin is a dream," Yerzhanov said. "I have been working towards this for ten years, and thanks to the curator Barbara Wurm and her team, my film was selected for the program."

"Cadet" follows the story of a single mother, Alina (played by Anna Starchenko), who secures a place in a cadet school and enrolls her son Serik. However, the boy quickly becomes a target of bullying due to his gentle nature. Although Serik does not retaliate, a series of mysterious and violent student suicides begin occurring at the school, deepening the tension in the storyline.

The film was presented in Berlin by Yerzhanov himself, alongside lead actress Anna Starchenko and composer Sandra Di Stefano.

"Cadet" had a strong release in Kazakhstan and Russia, with Yerzhanov expressing pride in its performance. 

"The film found its audience and recouped its modest budget, which is a significant achievement for me," he shared.

The Berlin International Film Festival has a rich history dating back to the early Cold War era. The festival was created for the Berlin public in 1951, at the beginning of the Cold War, as a “showcase of the free world”. Shaped by the turbulent post-war period and the unique situation of a divided city, the Berlinale has developed into a place of intercultural exchange and a platform for the critical cinematic exploration of social issues.