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A woman in an apron works a nail salon, filing a client's toenails.

Only Heaven Knows Dünüyö

  Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva  |  Kyrgyzstan, U.S.

Synopsis

Set in Chicago’s Kyrgyz community, this tense drama follows a Kyrgyz family thrown into turmoil as they try to find their footing in the U.S. Eric, the prodigal son, is a working truck driver trying to save enough money to buy a house for his wife Mira and his mother. This plan is complicated, though, when his mounting gambling debts begin to catch up with him. Suddenly left to her own devices, Mira is forced to navigate a maze of immigration appointments, interpersonal strife, and suspicion.

Documentary-turned-fiction filmmaker Nurzhamal Karamoloeva crafts an urgent and compelling story about a community on edge. Fresh and vital, Only Heaven Knows portrays a people struggling to assimilate, as they endure the perils of pursuing the American Dream—an ideal that can quickly turn combustible.

 Kyrgyz, Russian 

 80 minutes

Screenings & Events

There are currently no upcoming screenings of this film.

Media

Film Credits

  •   Aziza Khalbekova
  •   Jeff Man, Güljan Toktogul
  •   Ulukmyrza Ravshanbekov
  •   Mitchell Arens
  •   Malika Kanatova, Dauren Tashkenbaev, Elmira Mirza
  •   Ulan Moldousupov
  •   Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva
  •   Paradigma N

Sponsors

Program Patron

Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation

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