Traveling with the Bomb is a road movie that addresses the controversial practice of bride kidnapping, which still happens in Kyrgyzstan. Having attended university in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ikhtiandr returns to Issyk Kul, his hometown, with Diana, his Kazakhstani fiancée. After some tribulations, Ikhtiandr’s family finally sets out for Almaty to ask Diana’s father for her hand in marriage. However, because a girl and a goat from nextdoor have sneaked into the car, the family isn’t allowed to cross the border. They try taking another route but they are caught by border guards. The head guard makes a deal with them; they can cross the border, but only if they smuggle a box of explosives across too. So the family decides to take on the dangerous but thrilling escapade. The film depicts Kyrgyzstan’s traditional marriage customs and its culture amongst the backdrop of Central Asia’s beautiful landscape. Traveling with the Bomb portrays a culture in which great emphasis is given to community life through various characters in harmony, rather than focusing on just one character. (PARK Jin-hee)