Rambunctious seven-year-old Shambala (Artur Amanaliev) lives in a forest high in the striking Tian Shan mountains with his family. With no playmates, Shambala spends his time alone, trying to catch fish with his pants, or dreaming about the vivid folklore told by his beloved grandfather. But life is not as idyllic as Shambala's surrounding scenery suggests. With his mother dead and his father at sea, Shambala is forced to endure his uncle, a belligerent and abusive drunk. Adapted from Chingiz Aitmatov's acclaimed novella The White Ship, Shambala is a spectacular vision of Kyrgyz myths and history seen through the lens of a troubled childhood. Director Artykpai Suyundukov labored over the source material for decades, turning it into a lyrical examination of how modernity and tradition clash in present-day Kyrgyzstan. The country's natural beauty is sumptuously photographed, but the real star is Amanaliev in a wonderfully compelling performance as the titular character.