Man Follows Birds (1975)

This is a lush, intoxicating work. On one level it recalls Parajanov's Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors with its fable like plot, kinetic camera work, and sensual visuals, but it is also a wholly unique work, one that is shamefully underrated and under seen. Man Follows Birds is about the journey of the poet Farouk and his best friend Khabib as they travel across the harsh Uzbek landscape. The two come of age together facing danger and adventure, but also finding (and losing) love. Ali Khamrayev is a director who clearly loves the cinema. I have been collecting as many of his films as I can, and while this one is the only one available with subtitles, they are almost not necessary, because his visuals carry the film. Man Follows Birds is full of joy, magic, and pain. See this movie and love it.