Plot synopsis

According to Dagestani custom, a person’s birthday is celebrated when they perform their first independent act that benefits everyone.
As the grandfather told his grandson, this custom originated in ancient times. Back then, there were two brothers in the world. The elder was a shepherd – he tended sheep – whilst the younger had yet to know any of life’s cares. But then the evil spirit Azhdaha transformed himself into a whirlwind and attacked the elder brother’s flock. The shepherd drove his flock into a cave to save them, but the malicious Azhdaha blocked the entrance to the cave with a boulder. It was his younger brother who rescued the flock and the shepherd from their plight. With the help of a nightingale and a toad, and after overcoming many obstacles and hardships, he reached Azhdaha’s lair and stole the magic ring from him. Using this ring, he opened a passage out of the cave and freed his brother and his flock. From that day on, the little boy became a man. Having learnt of the custom, the grandson began to train as a horseman to prove his birth as a human being.

Selected in the following festivals or events :

- International Festival of Archive Films, Moscow (Russia), 2026

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