DJ AHMET

Living in a remote North Macedonian village, teenage Ahmet (Arif Jakup) has issues: his mother has just died, his father doesn’t understand him, he’s being pulled from school to tend the family’s sheep herd full-time, his adorable young brother (Agush Agushev) refuses to speak, and the girl he’s crushing on, Aya (Dora Akan Zlatanova), is getting married to someone else. Thank god for music. When he accidentally stumbles on a late-night rave with his herd, Ahmet becomes a viral sensation. This good-hearted comedy-drama mines gold from the clash of conservative traditions and modern ways, and watching Ahmet and Aya connect through dance and techno is a beautiful reminder of the power of music. With utterly winning performances from all involved, a rousing but believable conclusion, a great soundtrack, and a scene-stealing pink sheep, DJ Ahmet plays the hits. ~SM