Aral, Fishing in the Invisible Sea (tbc)
- Run time: 52 mins
- Language: Uzbek
- Genre: Documentary
- Release date: 1st January 2004
- Starring: Not Known
- Directed by: Saodat Ismailova, Carlos Casas
Plot Synopsis
In the last few decades the Aral Sea has lost over 80% of its surface area. This is largely due to the poor administration of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers by the Soviet government in the first half of the twentieth century. In the Uzbek village of Moynak, once located on the banks of the Aral Sea, today there is only a polluted wasteland with a few grassy shallows containing the last remaining fish. The majority of the local population have already been forced to move to neighbouring Kazakhstan, as fishing in Moynak was their primary, and very nearly only source of livelihood. This film is an intimate portrait of three generations of one family seeking out a living near what remains of the Aral Sea. ìI cannot imagine that grandfathers stories of an immense sea, which was sailed on by great ships, are based on the truthî, says little Jabanek Anuarov. The tight style of filming utilises long shots which combined with the disturbing music of A.R. Mutti, faithfully reflect the bleak situation of the locals.