I ne bylo luchshe brata

This story of two, temperamentally different brothers takes place in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku in the 1970s. The elder brother, Jalil, is a married postal worker who keeps bees as a hobby. Like those creatures, he approaches life with measured care. Younger brother Simurg is by nature more adventurous and, in contrast to his sibling, is capable of going after his goals, not just dreaming about them. And when a beautiful neighborhood girl charms the young men, their character differences become apparent once again. There Was Never a Better Brother is based on the novel of the same name by the director’s father Maksud Ibragimbekov. Using deep colors and intriguing visual compositions, Ibragimbekov brings the recent past back to life and adds other narrative layers: visions and memories of childhood. Despite the fact that the film is set in Soviet era Baku, its message stresses universality. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)