SALAMATTY KAZAKHSTAN

year:
2025

release: 9 oktober 2025

duration:
94 min

logline:
The fully equipped Salamatty Kazakhstan train (Healthy Kazakhstan) travels for 8 months non stop through the hinterland of Kazakhstan to pay attention to a population that has limited access to medical care. A unique railroadmovie about a unknown phenomenon.

synopsis:

Every year, a train with doctors and equipment on board travels through the remote, sparsely populated areas of Kazakhstan. The Salamatty Kazakhstan (Healthy Kazakhstan) operates non-stop for 8 months and is open every day. Local residents can consult doctors for examination and diagnosis. Besides the medical staff, the train crew consists of kitchen staff, stewards, and technicians. The train travels through 17 provinces, stops at 121 stations, and covers 18,000 kilometers. The film pays attention and space to this unique, urgent, social project, to doctors and train staff, mutual solidarity, working, eating and living together. And to ordinary people from the countryside who come for consultation, with their ailments and everyday worries. The encounters between these two worlds are special, colourful and valuable. Situations and characters are shown as equal, with respect and involvement. The film would like to do justice to a strong but vulnerable population that has limited access to medical facilities.

credits:
concept & direction: Ben van Lieshout
cinematography: Jelle Dijkstra
sound: Ben van Lieshout
line producer: Tatyana Yassievich
editing: Jan Ketelaar, Jelle Dijkstra
producers: Ben van Lieshout Filmproducties, Digna Sinke / SNG Film

distribution: MOKUM Filmdistributie

SALES AGENT: DUTCH CORE
www.dutch-core.com