On the verge of adulthood, the wide-eyed and reserved 16-year-old schoolgirl, Ardak, can only imagine the feeling of desire, and the outburst of emotions of her first teenage love. Diagnosed with HIV as a child though has set her back somewhat in her pursuit. Living a sheltered life with her mother in a plush house in the city of Almaty/Kazakhstan, Ardak dreams of moving to Paris and becoming the next big thing in couture.

At a local charity for HIV adolescents she meets the alluring and adventurous, Zhanna, to put her plans into motion. Before long, their youthful friendship will yield to an arduous, yet ardent romance, in a country that has stigmatized them since birth. Forging a plan to steal a prized falcon, proves to be the ultimate test of their character and their relationship…

Aysulu Onaran is a director and writer living and working in the United Kingdom. From 2008, she worked with the production company AIM Entertainment in Moscow, where she produced video content for advertising campaigns, fashion, and music videos. In 2019, she worked as producer for the short film SWEET STREET in the UK, which follows the life of a sex worker in the north of England. In 2021, she wrote and directed her first feature film, BALABAN, followed by her second feature film REBIRTH ISLAND one year later.

Filmography (selection): 2019 SWEET STREET (short film), 2021 BALABAN, 2022 REBIRTH ISLAND