Panic Button
Instead of being celebrated as heroes, journalists in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan often face threats. Their private lives suffer, as does their safety—and sometimes even their very lives wind up on the line. Ali Toktakunov, one of Kyrgyzstan’s best-known investigative journalists, stands up to the ruling elite by exposing a corruption case. But when his most important informant is shot dead, Toktakunov flees to the Czech Republic. The tension between his personal life and his work is brought to light by director Samara Sagynbaeva—who is also his wife. Her diary-style documentary paints a portrait of a courageous journalist. At the same time, the film serves as a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the rule oflaw in a country where freedom of expression is by no means a given.