This visually stunning film set in Tajikistan is about the centuries-old sport of Buzkashi. Like polo, the game is played on horseback; unlike polo, hundreds of sheepherders crush and slam each other while trying to snatch a sheep’s carcass off the ground and race it across a goal line. Azam, a poor shepherd and Buzkashi champion, is a traditionalist who believes his children and his beloved sport should walk a time-honored path. Enter Khurshed, an intense upstart with fancy horses and Mafia-esque alliances on the field, who wants to modernize Buzkashi and bring it international credibility. Soon Azam’s own son challenges tradition by questioning his future as a shepherd. As Azam trains in his barn for a confrontation on the field, his son prepares for his own turning point at home. Buzkashi! is a film to be seen on the big screen. The cinematography is lush and purposeful—even the mud clipping off the back of galloping horses looks crisp and exciting.  RS