ALMATY INDIE FILM FESTIVAL

Lady Sparta

Asem Nurlanova · 2019

Overview

31-year-old Aida Satybaldinova left her native Kazakhstan and now trains in the US to become a world champion in a professional boxing. There she was told that she was old, here she gets friends and support.

Director Biography — Asem Nurlanova

Asem Nurlanova is Kazakh director of documentary series about famous sportsmen, Olympic champions. Her last movie "Lady Sparta" offers an intimate and unflinching portrait of Aida Satybaldinova, 31-years-old female boxer from Kazakhstan. She prepares for the most important fight in her pro career and then recoveres after the knock out. Film was shot in Los Angeles and Mexico (Tijuana).

Nurlanova’s films as a director include "Tiger’s Fate. Unknown Jirov", "Luikin’s Empire. Happy brand", "Denis Ten and Friends. Backstage of ice show", "Our Nelli Kim".

She is a member of the International Documentary Association.

Director Statement

Lady Sparta is a very touching project for me. I’m away from my homeland almost 2 years and I feel strong connection with people who pursue their dreams and self-actualize in new countries. My character, Aida Satybaldinova, is a brave woman who began to do boxing at age 26 and who left Kazakhstan because she was labeled there as an old perspective-less athlete. Through her story I explore topics like an unwillingness to obey the system, a challenging oneself, an adventurism. A corruption and a favoritism - the obstacles that Aida faced in the amateur boxing. And what pushed her to the professional ring. So the main question for me is: What does Aida fight for?

Credits