Grimmfest 2026: Sicko

Having had its Northern UK premiere at this year’s Grimmfest, Sicko is a black comedy directed by Aitore Zholdaskali. Hailing from Kazakhstan, the film depicts the depths of desperation a couple sink to as they commit medical fraud in order to pay back loans.

Azamat (Ayan Utepbergen) and his partner Tansholpan (Dilnaz Kurmangali) are living on the edge financially, despite their daily affirmation of “New Day! New opportunity!”. Deep in debt, and constantly being threatened with violence, Azamat creates a plan in order for the pair to recuperate their finances fast, but like most novice cons, the couple soon finds themselves spiraling out of control, and catches the attention of other petty criminals. Azamat begins to lose himself, as his desperation for money causes him to put his most beloved in the line of danger.

Aitore Zholdaskali’s debut solo feature (he co-directed Shulamah from 2024) is a boldly dark tale of the effects of capitalism on people who are living on the periphery of poverty, and what drives them to forgo all morals in order to become rich. In the first half of the film, it is almost light-hearted, causing the audience to warm to the couple in the hopes that they will succeed in their endeavours, rooting for the apparent underdogs, even if it is through a con. However, the tonal whiplash soon arrives in the latter half, and what a brutal and sickening turn it does take. 

Zholdaskali has expertly crafted a commentary on Kazakhstani society, both from a gendered perspective and an economical viewpoint – suggesting that men are obsessed with wealth status and optics, whilst it is the women and children who suffer behind the scenes. 

4.5 Screams out of 5