Racketeer (Akhan Sataev, 2008): Kazakstan

Reviewed by Darryl Walden. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009.

On December 16, 1991, Kazakstan became the last Soviet Republic to declare itself an independent country.  It has since worked hard to improve its economy, relying principally on its hydrocarbon industry. Exposure to western capitalist markets, however, has bred inevitable elements of organized crime.  This is certainly true for Kazakstan’s capital city of Almaty.

In the film, Racketeer, director  Akhan Sataev, takes us on an urban biographical journey into the life of a promising young Almaty boxer, Sayan Bekimov (Sayan Isembaev), who gets lured into a crime ring ran by Ruslan (Murat Bisembim), an up and coming gangster with a penchant for extortion.

Sayan scores a one punch knockout in a boxing match. The personable Ruslan is impressed and approaches Sayan with the promise of steady profit should he join what they called his “company.” At the time, Sayan is in college and attracted to a girl named Assel (Assel Sagatova). However, Assel chooses another guy that has a car and the promise of future material security.  This becomes the catalyst for Sayan’s decision to hook up with Ruslan.  Soon, Sayan’s fearlessness and disciplined character becomes pivotal to his evolution as Ruslan’s chief enforcer.  Sayan even gets Assel back.

How one endures in organized crime is not a new topic for the American audience. Nor, does Ruslan’s crime ring reach the level of mega million financial viability.  In fact, they will find themselves outmaneuvered by a more sophisticated Moscow mafioso.  But what makes this film is that it cleanly delivers the narrative with explicit intent to de-glamorize criminality on the level it exists in Kazakstan.

I am as equally impressed with Sataev’s personal investment of all his money into the making of this film.  The cinematography and editing does not suffer.  Both are highly professional.  Although the present success of Racketeer seems marginal for the moment, I am sure we have not heard the last of Akhan Sataev.