Twelve-year-old Jekshen, an exceptional runner, lives in a beautiful mountain village in Kyrgyzstan. His parents are divorced, and life with his alcoholic father is difficult. Lonely Jekshen only has his girlfriend from school and his father’s friends for support. They encourage him to take part in a big race—a race that could change his life for the better.
One day, Nazar walks into the studio of his partner’s ex-husband, Arsen. He looks around his computer and finds something that changes his life. Arsen is an artist who creates fictional worlds into which he loses himself. The romance between reality and the imaginary begins. Dreams and fantasies are forever intertwined with life here and now.
Munabia depicts the story of a family's frustration, fury, sadness and eventual acceptance of a long term love affair between a widowed father and his mistress. The film is set in rural Kyrgyzstan, where the natural environment, local culture, traditions and political climate all play an integral part in the drama which unfolds.
