In the final years before its collapse, the Soviet Union went through a period of political reforms and opening up, leading to the emergence of the Kazakh New Wave, led by director Rashid Nugmanov. Starring Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi, Nugmanov’s pioneering debut stars Tsoi as a drifter who pursues a drug mafia responsible for getting his ex-girlfriend addicted to drugs. Reminiscent of the French New Wave, this uninhibited and experimental drama symbolizes the thrill of newfound freedom and hope in Kazakh cinema. Reportedly seen by 30 million people across the USSR, it also brought Tsoi’s band Kino to mainstream stardom.