Dinara Asanova

Director & actor · born 24 October 1942 · Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, U.S.S.R.

Dinara Asanova was a Kyrgyzstani-Soviet film director and one of the few notable and acclaimed female filmmakers of the late Soviet Union. She is best known for her films Woodpeckers Don't Get Headaches (1975) and Tough Kids or Boys (1983).

Asanova’s movies were known for their perceptive treatment of contemporary issues and social problems, such as generational gaps and adolescent life during the time in which she was active. She often chose to include both professional actors and non-actors in order to facilitate a more realistic feeling in the interactions and films in general. She remains largely unknown in Western countries but had great success in the Soviet Union.

Where to start: Dear, Dearest, Beloved, Unique... (1985).