About
Using the Oxus river as a topos, this film explores themes of love and loss through the lives and musical poetry of the two most prominent and innovative Wakhi musicians in Central and South Asia, Qurbonsho in Tajikistan and Daulatsho in Afghanistan. In the 19th century their Wakhan homeland became a buffer zone between Czarist Russia and the British Empire and the river Oxus became a border. The condition of being separated by a river grounds the poets’ discussions of love and loss in their own lives as well as in their musical arts. Richard Wolf shot the film over 2.5 years (2012-2020).
The Deluxe Edition 2-disc set includes a Blu-ray featuring the 75-min festival cut and 124-min director’s cut, a CD soundtrack of music in Wakhi, Tajik, Persian, and Dari languages, and an accompanying booklet with songtexts and translations.
Film Links
Filmmaker's WebsiteCredits
With support from
The Fulbright, South and Central Asia Regional Research Program
The American Institute of Afghanistan Studies
The Harvard University Asia Center
The Anne and Jim Rothenberg Fund for Humanities Research
The National Humanities Center
Publications committee, Music Department, Harvard University
Special thanks to
The University of Central Asia
The Aga Khan Development Network
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat
Muhabbat Ali
Katherine Freeze Wolf
Frank Heidemann
Zafarbek Kuvvatbekov
Masha Vlasova
Hermann Kreutzmann
Additional thanks to
Gulrukhsor Mirzoeva
Qanoat Payshanbeyev
Mehrangez Gulova
Featuring
Qurbonsho
Daulatsho
Additional Cast (in order of appearance, director's cut)
Gorgali Khairkhah - Research assistant in Afghanistan
Marjon - Aunt of Qurbonsho
Daulatbeka, a.k.a. Sonya - Wife of Qurbonsho
Daulatshoeva Shambolu Bendishoevna - Woman depicted milking cow
Farukh Saifuloev - Bridegroom
Navruzali Gulomaliev - Wakhi musician in Dushanbe inspired by Qurbonsho
Qabadkhan - Wakhi musician in Gazkhan inspired by Qurbonsho
Katherine Freeze Wolf - Participant in interview with Daulatbeka
Mirbozkhon - Listener
Jumakhān - Retired schoolteacher in Wark, Afghanistan
Ruholla - Driver in Afghanistan
Mamad Akram - Head of transport department in Khandud
Atiqulah Siddiqi - Officer in office of district governor, Khandud
Abdulali - Uncle of Daulatsho, musician, maker of strings
Talabuddin Qadiri - Research assistant
Assistants
Vatani Alidodov
Chorshanbe Goibnazarov
Gorgali Khairkhah
Alim Mamadasanov
Zohir Piltaboev
Talabuddin Qadiri
Language Consultants
Chorshanbe Goibnazarov
Gorgali Khairkhah
Mizhgona Oshurova
Zohir Piltaboev
Niloofar Rasooli
Alisher Saidqadamov
Matiullah Tawhidi
Visual Effects
Sarah Lasley
Post-production Audio
Ernst Karel
Ornithologist
Bill Evans
Drivers
Masum
Ruhollo
Qimatsho
Daulat
Azizsho
Ghulom Kukanbekov
Abu Said
Other assistance and hospitality in Afghanistan
Afeyat Khan
Musāfir
Abdulali
Rais Gorgali
Muki Mamadsharif
Images
Learning Resources
