The Light Thief review

The titular criminal is actually a kindly electrician (appealingly played by writer/director Aktan Arym Kubat), who dreams of providing a poor rural community in Kyrgyzstan with energy from a wind turbine scheme.

Meanwhile, a corrupt city politician (Askat Sulaimanov) schemes to sell the villagers’ land to investors.

Kubat’s tragi-comedy engages most when capturing the rituals of community life, including a horseback game of goat-grabbing.

Yet despite bold imagery and topical social commentary, a slender running time leaves characters and scenes under-nourished.