Wow! Such a good movie.

disgusting, overrated, pointless

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

The best thing you can do in a brutal environment is outperform bad guys. That's exactly what the main character is doing. There's a slight hint though that he won't take place of his defeated enemies. He has some values in him to prevent that to happen.

There is something magical in the films from Central Asian republics that serious viewers cannot disassociate themselves from them.No one knows for sure whether it has got something to do with folklore or customs or the fact that they have freed themselves from Soviet union.Whatever might be the reason it is sure that some of the films from these reasons are made by enterprising film makers who have always made nice films despite having been burdened with lack of funds.Schizo is one such film made by Guka Omarova.In the past she has been assistant to the great Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov.She has made good use of the current day political situation in Kazakhstan to make an entertaining film by using some rather common dramatic elements.Schizo functions as a double edged sword as not only it entertains but always leaves a serious message on viewers' minds.The film is a watchable treat thanks to the title character who proves in the end that the week and meek are not to be taken for granted.

If you are sitting at home and thinking: "you know, I would like to see a film dealing with life in present day Kazakhstan. Something with a fairly clean, simple plot, good direction, nice visuals, and a storyline that takes its time", then I would highly recommend this film.It should be noted that this is a slow film. There is nothing really that happens in the film that is surprising if you are somewhat aware of the living conditions in central asia. I would say that the film's best feature is that is seems to do a pretty good job of giving the viewer an idea of what life is like in rural Kazakhstan.

Schizophrenic Mustafa (Schizo) is not. His classmates have given him that nickname because they think he is crazy. And a doctor is treating him with pills. There's nothing crazy about him. He's not even as slow as he is made out to be. He is non-verbal, yes. But those eyes see it all. He lives in a country where men have no jobs, the land has no produce, a desolate place. He lives with an uncle who involves him in recruiting men to fight bare-knuckled, even to the death, in an illegal boxing racket. He is taken in by a young widow who starts as his substitute mother. But they learn to love each other and come to an intimacy that is presented to us beautifully. We don't even think of incest. Fine acting. We get to know them so well. Great direction and camera work. Put it on your list of ones to see.