This tale of very different brothers is an allegory for the struggle between two cultures-one urban, one rural-and two languages-Russian and Kazakh-for control over the identity and integrity of Kazakhstan. But director Aprymov avoids clichés in favor of nuanced portrayals of tension and misunderstanding. A man's quiet village life is disrupted when his brother (and the brother's beautiful, pregnant wife) suddenly arrives from the city, intent on escaping his Mafia creditors. Set apart by his use of Russian and by his loose playboy nature, the younger man cannot adapt to the slower, more tranquil ways of the village. He leaves his wife there and sets off on one last, desperate attempt to save himself from the mob.