Skylark: beautiful and gentle, Narghiza Dotieva’s drama tells the story of a Kyrgyz boy, raised by his loving grandmother in a small mountain village, who is tasked with burying her across the border by his grandfather. The protagonist is a gentle kid with the soul of an artist, and with a wholesome relationship with his grandmother; it’s easy to relate to him. Ularbek Mirlanov gives a perfectly fine performance as the protagonist; Bermet Omourova, as his wise grandma, is also solid. The pace given by editor Evgeny Krokhmalenko is slow, but the serenity fits the landscape and is rewarding. The images, by director of photography Ben Liddell, can be beautiful at times, but the reliance on a handheld camera feels out ot of place.