Tal Barda and Noam Pinchas
The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev
Part of
The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev

The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev

Tal Barda and Noam Pinchas

2016
74 min.
Israel and France
Hebrew, Russian and Tajik
Subtitles: Catalan and Spanish

Meet Tajikistan's answer to the Jackson family. Nearly 80, Allo "Papa" Alaev rules his celebrated folk music clan with an iron tambourine.

Datasheet

Show
Direction
Tal Barda and Noam Pinchas
Sound
Gil Toren
Distribution
DocsBarcelona Distribution
Production
Bruni Burres, Christine Camdessus, Serge Gordev, Noam Pinchas, Tal Barda.
Photography
Uri Ackerman
Edition
Yael Bitton
Synopsis

Meet Tajikistan's answer to the Jackson family. Nearly 80, Allo "Papa" Alaev rules his celebrated folk music clan with an iron tambourine. Beginning with his unilateral decision to emmigrate to Israel, the gifted musician micro-manages nearly every aspect of their lives, both on stage and off.

From every meal made in his kitchen to what instrument each member will play, the patriarch accepts nothing less than total commitment and obedience. Every child and grandchild lives in their single-family house in Tel Aviv. All but one, that is. His only daughter, Ada, chose her own way in life, a sin her father will not forgive. As generations clash over new musical directions, competing personal interests and Papa's advancing age, the family show must go on—but who will lead the band? Set to a blazing tribal soundtrack, drama and drumbeats sing out from every entertaining exchange in this grand family affair.

About the direction
Tal Barda

Tal Barda

Director

Tal (33), was born to an American mother and French father, and lives in Tel Aviv. Graduated of Tel...

Noam Pinchas

Noam Pinchas

Director

Noam (41) got his undergraduate degree from Northeast College of Communication, Boston MA. Noam is a...

DocsBarcelona Trajectory

2017
DocsBarcelona Festival · Panorama Section
Edició 2017
2017
Docs del Mes · July
Edició 2017

Awards and festivals

Docaviv International Film Festival
Israel, 2016
Hot Docs International Film Festival
Canada, 2016
Sao Paulo International Film Festival
Brasil, 2016
DOC NYC
EUA, 2016
Tal Barda and Noam Pinchas
The Wonderful Kingdom of Papa Alaev
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Reviews

Incorporating archival footage dating back several decades alongside its predominant vrit observations and concert footage, "Kingdom" is juicy without being disrespectful, the backstage dramas ultimately secondary to the thrill of the music itself.

— Variety
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