Locarno Premiere ‘Crickets, It’s Your Turn’ Releases First Clip

Sales company Cercamon has granted an exclusive preview of its upcoming revenge film “Crickets, It’s Your Turn” to Variety, just ahead of the film’s premiere at the Locarno Film Festival.

Written and directed by Olga Korotko, known for “Bad Bad Winter,” the film centers on Merey (Inzhu Abeu), who resides in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Merey encounters Nurlan (Ayan Batyrbek) who introduces her to his friends, sparking a series of unfortunate events. Despite initial misgivings, Merey agrees to attend Nurlan’s birthday party in the mountains, a decision that sets the stage for the film’s dramatic unfolding.

Korotko elaborates on the thematic essence of her film, indicating that it’s not just about patriarchy but a broader worldview rooted in social Darwinism. This perspective champions strength, domination, and toxic competition as the sole means to succeed. Korotko wishes to highlight the absurdity and harmful repercussions of such ideologies.

“Patriarchy is a byproduct of this broader worldview. I wanted to accentuate its traits, almost making them a joke—except this joke isn’t funny. Real people suffer, and the consequences can be tragic,” shared Korotko.

The film’s title, “Crickets, It’s Your Turn,” refers to a phrase used when a joke falls flat, which Korotko finds fitting for her story’s commentary on societal norms.

Korotko calls for a redefinition of success, one that steps away from a purely survivalist perspective. She believes this worldview is ubiquitous, present in Kazakhstan and beyond.

In crafting the film, Korotko plays with genre boundaries, merging elements of drama, comedy, thriller, and theatricality. This approach, she mentions, serves as a reminder that Merey’s imagined scenes, though fanciful, are rooted in grim realities.

Merey’s way of challenging her circumstances involves mocking the situations through theatrical fantasies, pushing them into absurdity and humor. Yet, she also learns to channel her protest through tangible actions and her art. By using a camera—a tool often associated with objectification—Merey captures the souls and personalities of the most vulnerable women in society: call girls.

Within the narrative, a group of prostitutes hired for the party becomes an unexpected support system for Merey. Korotko emphasizes the transformative power of their mutual support outside the exploitative environment where vulnerability is often preyed upon.

“Their bond is the most sincere scene in the film—a space for genuine connection without absurdity or caricature,” Korotko said. Such honest moments are scarce in the film, which conveys a Kazakh version of “Promising Young Woman.”

Korotko references a notable trial involving Bishimbayev, a high-ranking official whose abusive actions led to his wife’s death, underlining that such events are not isolated in Kazakhstan. While Korotko acknowledges the timely and challenging issues her film addresses, she aims to treat them with a certain detachment. She believes emotional engagement, despite its importance, may not always yield new insights.

“We are all aware that violence is wrong; addressing it purely emotionally doesn’t add anything new. I wanted audiences to observe and reflect, not just empathize,” she explained.

In both the film and her own beliefs, Korotko questions if the world should continue to revolve around “the survival of the fittest.”

“When writing the script, I knew the natural culmination might seem a ‘revenge girl’ narrative where Merey takes justice into her own hands. But that would contradict the message I aim to deliver,” Korotko stated.

She wishes to depict a different approach, one advocating for the ‘philosophy of the peacock’—a worldview positing that one’s primary mission is to bring beauty into the world. In her view, battling adherents of social Darwinism on their own terms—using power and aggression—is futile.

“It’s impossible to outmatch those championing power through sheer force. We need another route, a path that isn’t immediate but invokes deep, meaningful change,” Korotko emphasized.

Produced by Korotko and Etienne de Ricaud for Seven Rivers and Caractères Productions, “Crickets, It’s Your Turn” promises an intense narrative combined with poignant social commentary.

Sebastien Chesneau of Cercamon remarked, “Olga’s blend of intimate storytelling with broader social critique makes this project exciting for us. The film delves into the dark turns of an innocent night, evolving into a game of survival. It offers the kind of profound, challenging narratives that audiences crave today.”

Source: Variety