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Central Asia in Film | The Smart Set

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Imagine a world in which the essence of a nation is defined by its portrayal on the silver screen. Now, what if said nation has no portrayal at all to go by? Uzbekistan has long suffered from cinematic anonymity. The vast sand dunes of the Kyzylkum Desert, the lush Fergana Valley, the majestic peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains have rarely served as backdrops for filmmakers looking for evocative scenery; the haunting landscapes surrounding the Aral Sea, the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara renowned for their stunning Islamic architecture, the tranquility of the Charvak Reservoir — seldom perform as extras and yet deserve more roles as the scene-stealing setting in global motion pictures. International filmmakers have long enjoyed filming in other exotic locations, whether that be in South, East, or Southeast Asia. Uzbekistan, and by extension, Central Asia, can and should provide another avenue through which they can explore their stories. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, fi

To the Ends of the Earth: A Unique Perspective Imagine a world in which the essence of a nation is defined by its portrayal on the silver screen. Now, what if said nation has no portrayal at all to go by? Uzbekistan has long suffered from cinematic anonymity. The vast sand dunes of the Kyzylkum Desert, the lush Fergana Valley, the majestic peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains have rarely served as backdrops for filmmakers looking for evocative scenery; the haunting landscapes surrounding the Aral Sea, the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara renowned for their stunning Islamic architecture, the

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