Kids on the Silk Road

Through this selection of 4 short films we bring you a unique insight into the life of children between the ages of 10 and 14, from countries along the old silk route like China, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Ukraine.

Each story shows how the individual child deals with life’s challenges, big and small, which they face in their specific cultural and social contexts. They revolve around something the child is passionate about with big universally recognizable themes such as developing your talents, realizing your dreams, finding yourself, and even disagreeing with parents – part of every child’s life.

Common to the children is their bravery and the fact that they have a level of rather mature reflection of their own existence. Other children will in many ways emotionally recognize the stories about Nastia, Yang, Leeza and others because they are children with inner strength who despite obstacles find their own way forward.

The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction connecting the East and West. It created curiosity among cultures, for example tea and silk from China were suddenly sold in Venice. The trading may be a thing of the past, but the cultures are still there. The historical Silk Road countries provide an exotic and dramatic frame for the children’s stories.

The Silk Road selection of 4 films, shows kids how colorful the world is and creates understanding and curiosity of different cultures.

Note:

Each film has English subtitles THE GIRL AWAY FROM HOME Nastia (13) is the captain of an elite gymnastics team in Kiev. The girls on the team are her best friends. Together they train hard for the upcoming championship. They win the championship and have never been better.

Just one month later, war breaks out in Ukraine and Nastia has to move with her grandmother to Germany.

Now Nastia has to create a new life without her parents and without her friends from gymnastics. She has no idea when she will be able to return to Kiev and see her parents and friends again. And the wait in Germany is difficult for Nastia. But when she joins a German gymnastics team, things slowly start to brighten.

CREDITS Directors Alisa Kovalenko & Simon Lereng Wilmont THE MONKEY KING Yang (11) has the lead role as the Monkey King playing at the famous Chinese Opera. It is a dream that is being fulfilled, since the Monkey King i