The Elderly Store
70-year-old Satar has 15 days to make life interesting – or be sent for "recycling."
75-year-old Satar is given 15 days to live an interesting life and prove that he is still useful to society. Otherwise, he will be sent for "disposal". Together with his son Marat, he searches for a woman at the "Old People's Store". However, buying each elderly woman also means taking on her problems. They cannot find a suitable match. Finally, they find Sayrash, Satar's love from his youth. Still angry with him, Sayrash shoots Satar with a double-barrelled shotgun, and each time, new days are added to his countdown. Satar apologises, and they have a wedding. However, the villagers take them to court for violating the rules of proper behaviour in old age.
Director's note
The script for The Elderly Store explores the place and dignity of the older generation in modern society. When people retire, they are often told to "just sit quietly at home and rest." However, this forced silence does not mean peace or happiness. On the contrary, sitting alone at home makes them feel useless and forgotten, and the thought of being a burden destroys them from within. People who demand that the elderly "live quietly" completely misunderstand them. They do not want to lose the rhythm of life; they do not need hard labour, but they deeply need communication, a chance to share advice and the feeling of being cared for. Only then do they feel useful, alive and strong. With this film, moving into more profound psychological territory than my debut, I want to give a cinematic voice to this invisible struggle. Through authentic atmospheres and a human-centred narrative, The Elderly Store is a vital reflection on loneliness and the emotional bridges we must rebuild between generations.
Screenwriter's note
The script for The Elderly Store explores the place and dignity of the older generation in modern society. When people retire, they are often told to "just sit quietly at home and rest." However, this forced silence does not mean peace or happiness. On the contrary, sitting alone at home makes them feel useless and forgotten, and the thought of being a burden destroys them from within. People who demand that the elderly "live quietly" completely misunderstand them. They do not want to lose the rhythm of life; they do not need hard labour, but they deeply need communication, a chance to share advice and the feeling of being cared for. Only then do they feel useful, alive and strong. With this film, moving into more profound psychological territory than my debut, I want to give a cinematic voice to this invisible struggle. Through authentic atmospheres and a human-centred narrative, The Elderly Store is a vital reflection on loneliness and the emotional bridges we must rebuild between generations.
Biography
Amanbek Azhymat (1990) was born in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. In 2009, he graduated from the Bishkek College of Computer Systems and Technologies. In 2013, he took the course of Temir Birnazrov (director of documentaries and feature films). In 2015, he enrolled at the Amsterdam University of the Arts in Netherlands. His short film ""Warrior” (2022) is a contemplative and provocative feature about the absurd nature of war.
Filmography: Warrior (2022, short), Backstage Madness (2025)
Producer's note
The National Film Studio Kyrgyzfilm is proud to produce Amanbek Azymat's second feature film. Following his successful debut Backstage Madness at PÖFF 2025, we strongly believe in Amanbek's unique voice as a rising auteur in Central Asian cinema. The Elderly Store stands out with its brilliant blend of absurdist drama, dark humour and deep humanism, exploring the universally resonant themes of ageing and dignity. Having completed filming in late August, we managed to assemble a compelling rough cut in just 10 days that clearly highlights the film's strong cinematic language and international potential. As a studio, we are fully committed to this project and are looking for festival programmers, international sales agents and distributors to launch its world premiere at an A-list film festival.
Profile
The National Film Studio Kyrgyzfilm, named after Tolomush Okeev, is the leading state-owned film production company in Kyrgyzstan. Founded in 1942, the studio was the birthplace of the historic "Kyrgyz Miracle" wave of cinema. Today, Kyrgyzfilm continues to support talented auteur directors, producing impactful fiction and documentary films that represent Central Asian cinema at major international film festivals worldwide.