You are here:

The Lake

Name: The Lake
Director: Emil Atageldijev
Released: 2020
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

8.2/10

Excellent

2020

Director

Emil Atageldijev

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Lake is a culturally specific drama that emphasizes a non-Western perspective. By focusing on Central Asian folklore and the inner life of a neurodivergent protagonist, the film moves away from typical blockbuster narratives. While it lacks explicit LGBTQ+ themes and remains anchored in patriarchal conflicts, it excels in its ethnic and cultural specificity. It explores the tension between ancestral spirituality and modern societal expectations through a localized lens.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Lake have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict LGBTQ+ identities or relationships outside of traditional heterosexual norms. The main storyline focuses on family and generational tensions rather than the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.

How does The Lake portray gender?

Fair

Jyldys serves as the emotional heart of the story, offering a perspective that challenges traditional social hierarchies. However, the primary conflict revolves around a patriarchal struggle between male figures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Lake?

Excellent

The story is set in Central Asia, specifically the Issyk-Kul region, and avoids a Western perspective by emphasizing indigenous legends and local customs.

How does The Lake represent religion and culture?

Good

The film examines the tension between diverse spiritual beliefs and strict religious doctrines. It presents unconventional philosophical views on grief and sanctity as valid perspectives.

Does The Lake include disability representation?

Good

Jyldys is portrayed as a character who exists on the fringes of social norms due to her silence. This suggests a nuanced depiction of neurodivergence or social disability.

Present on Screen

Strong ethnic specificity through its Central Asian setting and folklore.
Nuanced portrayal of a neurodivergent female protagonist's internal world.
Exploration of diverse spiritual beliefs against rigid institutional traditions.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Conflicts remain heavily centered on patriarchal authority and male-driven disputes.

Official Synopsis

"The Lake" tells the story of a girl named Jyldys who lives with her family in a village by the Issyk-Kul. Her life is hard. Her classmates tease her because she rarely speaks and often stays in her own world. The only solace she finds is in the company of a wise old man, Temirkul, who was once her father's teacher. Since Temirkul's own daughter drowned in the lake, he clings to the old legend about fish that embody the souls of those who have passed away. The lake is truly sacred to him. When his wife dies, he comes up with the idea of placing her body in the lake instead of burying her in the ground. Jyldys's father, on the other hand, is devoted to the old traditions and says his former teacher's ideas are madness. He believes the only way to help him is to pledge his own land to arrange a proper funeral for his late wife.

How are these scores produced? →