My role: Camera and Sound
Arte, Channel 8, Fund Rabinovich
A story about a famous and hot-tempered Tajik musical family, led by the charismatic but overbearing patriarch, Papa Alaev, who at the age of 80 is starting to lose his grip on his family, sending them on a rigid and unsure transition from monarchy to democracy.
‘The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev’ tells the story of the extraordinarily talented and acclaimed musical family, the Alaevs : Seven grandchildren, two sons, one daughter – and One Papa Alaev (79) a gifted musician, an exwrestler, a sometimes drunk and the indisputable leader of the tribe.
The Alaevs immigrated to Israel from Tajikistan in 1991, during the influx of immigration from the former Soviet Union. They left their fame and fortune behind and had to begin from scratch but managed to succeed largely because of Papa’s Iron fist. Papa decides everything, literally everything, in the family: the name of each grandchild (all start with an A), the musical instrument each family member will play and everyone’s residence: all three generations are crunched into a single house in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
But time is ticking, and this year Papa will turn 80. He is getting weaker, and this huge question looms heavily over the family: Who will be the next leader of the Alaevs?
‘The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev’ is a film about a family, an extremely talented musical family and about the confidence it gives and the individual fulfillment it withholds. In the 21st century, it worth staying under the family’s protecting wings, even in the price of losing your personal freedom?
Festivals
THESSALONIKI – INPUT 2017
BELGRADE – BEL DOCS 2017
ISTANBUL – International Documentary Awards 2017 / 9 ULUSLARARASI BELGESEL ODULLERI
LONDON : SERET London – the Israeli Film & TV Festival 2017
BOSTON : THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR JEWISH FILM’S / 20TH FILM FESTIVAL 2017
DOCS BARCELONA 2017 – Secció Oficial
DOC EDGE FESTIVAL 2017, NEW ZEALAND
57TH KRAKOW FILM FESTIVAL / POLAND 2017
