Made in Kazakhstan: 10 Kazakh TV series worth watching

Kazakh cinema is gaining more and more attention from both the industry and the audience – remember the phenomenon of “Aiki”, which participated in the main competition program of the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar in the nomination “Best Foreign Language Film” “… language.”

However, if you are not ready to start getting acquainted with the cinema of Kazakhstan, we recommend you to stop for the series. Believe me, they can pleasantly surprise you!

“5:32” (2021 – 2022)

Domestically, this detective thriller is already being called a revolution for local cinema. A young police officer turns to a retired crime investigator for help. A maniac emerges in the city that looks like the handwriting of a serial killer he caught in the 1990s. By the way, fans of the true crime genre should definitely like the series – all the maniacs here are based on real prototypes, but sometimes they become collective images.

“Candy” (2020 – …)

Almaty, our days. The main character learns that he has been expelled from the university and must find a large sum for restoration in a short time to prevent this from happening. Fearing that his strict father will find out that he has been deported, he decides to earn the necessary money and takes a job as a courier at a synthetic pharmacy. So, by the way, this is where the name comes from – it refers to the Kazakh word “sugar”, which translates as “sugar” (we are talking about the free-flowing version of the product), but here it is rather just a name from a white powder.

“Cops 667” (2020 – 2022)

Stories from the lives of two city police officers who selflessly oppose the “world of crime” every day. These two never doubt their composure for a second, but when they encounter real criminals, they don’t always follow through with the plan. Comedy and crime go hand in hand.

“The Player” (2022)

It is the first Kazakhstani digital series to be shortlisted for the London International Short Film Festival (LISFF). This is a crime drama (“Breaking Bad” in Kazakh language) about a man who faces financial problems and solves them in an original way through bets. True, this world is slowly absorbing him, and it is not so easy to stop.

“Sergeant Brother” (2021)

A competent Almaty racketeer suddenly regains consciousness after being in a coma for 23 years. In horror, he realizes that the year is 2021, his children are growing up, he is getting old and the world has changed beyond recognition. Now he has to adapt to reality and build relationships with his family. Two awards at Stareable Fest LA!

“Black Garden” (2023 – …)

A new crime drama about 16-year-old men from a dysfunctional “black garden” who, under the influence of trendy gangster dramas, dream of being the same tough gangsters. They try very hard to do this, but they realize that life is not like a movie at all.

Men’s Stories (2019)

“Real boys”, if filmed by Guy Ritchie in Kazakhstan in the 2000s. This is an action comedy set in Almaty in the 2000s and is about three childhood friends. They grew up in the same backyard and now turn into exciting, funny and dramatic situations full of fights, dancing, alcohol, parties and scams. Meanwhile, last year the series came out with a full-length sequel.

“The Tenants” (2022 – …)

The story of a Kazakh family who moves from a village to a big city, but cannot yet own a house and is forced to share a cramped rental flat.

“Escort” (2021 – …)

A young escort learns that a friend of hers, who took her place on order, has died. Now he is the only one who can help his brother find the culprit. But what if that reveals his darkest secret and destroys his nascent feelings?

“Rauza” (2019)

In the 1990s, a country girl travels from the village to the big city with dreams of becoming a famous singer. Of course, many trials await him on this road.