Elizaveta Stishova's directorial debut Suleiman Mountain, takes us to Kyrgyzstan in this story about a family of grifters. The titular, mystical peak stands as a silent witness to the constant stream of turmoil brought on a nomadic family by their patriarchal head, a charismatic, but drunk, con-man. When one of his two wives brings home their long lost son, the young boy not only changes the family dynamic, but offers the moral compass they lack. Like the stark landscapes of Kyrgyzstan contrasted with the multicolored textures & patterns of the textiles throughout, this poignant family drama is balanced by interjections of organic comedy. The resolution felt hurried, but also little kinks to be expected of a first-time filmmaker lost a few stars for me.