The 2025 film Another Birth, directed by Isabelle Kalandar, has made an evocative mark on the festival circuit with its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival.
Drawing poetic inspiration from Tajik landscapes and classic literature, the film beautifully explores themes of childhood, longing, and the cycles of life through the eyes of a precocious young girl. Set in the remote mountains of Badakhshan, Tajikistan, it invites audiences into an atmospheric quest where harsh reality meets myth and hope.
Synopsis
Set in a rural Tajik mountain village, Another Birth follows eight-year-old Parastu, a mature and sensitive child faced with the pain of an absent father and a grandfather heartbroken by longing for his missing son. When Parastu feels powerless to help her ailing grandfather, she seeks answers in local myths and embarks—along with her loyal friend Guliston—on a search for the mythical spirit, Pari. Their journey unfolds as an allegory for transformation, as the natural beauty and melancholic mood of their homeland reveal the cycles of life, loss, and identity. Parastu’s courage resonates with the poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad, offering a child’s perspective on rewriting the “history of histories” for her family and village.
Watch the Trailer
The official trailer premiered during the 30th Busan International Film Festival and can be viewed on the BIFF YouTube channel.
Another Birth delicately blends documentary-style realism with folkloric elements to create an immersive experience. The film’s stunning cinematography, led by Janis Brod, captures the Shakhdara Valley’s rugged beauty, intensifying the film’s lyrical and meditative tone.
Other Details
Film: Another Birth
Director: Isabelle KALANDAR
Cast: Shukrona Navruzbekova (as Parastu), Isabella Kalandar (as Parvin, Parastu’s mother), Shoira Abdulgaezkhonova (as Guliston), and Niezmamad Navruzbekov (as Bobo Ali, Parastu’s grandfather).
Cinematography: Janis Brod, Vladmir Usoltsev
Produced by IZK Films
Runtime: 66 minutes
Language: Tajik
Release: September 17 – 26, 2025, at the 30th Busan International Film Festival
As of November 15, 2025, Another Birth continues to screen at key festivals and is garnering attention for its poetic narrative and stunning visuals.
