DIRECTION: Rustem Abdrashov
SCRIPT: Pavel Finn
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Khasan Kidiraliev
ART DIRECTION: Alexander Rorokin
MUSIC: Kuat Shildebayev
EDITING: Sylvain Coutandin
PRODUCTION: Aldongar Productions
PRODUCER: Boris Cherdabayev

Nurjuman Ikhtimbayev (Kasym), Dalen Shintemirov (Sashka), Yekaterina Rednikova (Vierka), Bakhtiar Khoja (Bulgabi)

Rustem Abdrashov's film tells the story of a little boy named Sasha who along with his grandfather and other Moscow Jews is sent to Kazakhstan (a post-film codicil tells that much over a million "ethnic minorities" were relocated in this way between 1930 and 1949 as part of Stalin's purges). After his grandpa dies, he is saved from death by an old Kazakh man, Kasym (in this role giant Kazakh actor Nurzhuman Ikhtimbayev), who takes the boy to his home and renames him Sabyr. The Gift to Stalin has two significances. In 1949, the Soviet government carried out a nuclear test for the anniversary of "Great Leader's" 70th birthday; many innocent people perished. The other meaning is about Sashka's dream. He hopes that if he gives Stalin a gift, he will be able to see his parents again, not knowing that they were killed. The film depicts beautiful Kazakh Steppes, lovingly shot by Khasan Kidiraliev.

RUSTEM ABDRASHOV