Character Relationship Map: The Return to A

Characters

• Marat Ayumov (played by Seydulla Moldakhanov) — protagonist

  Central figure accompanying the documentary crew. A former combatant who lost a leg in Afghanistan, he is fluent in Persian, familiar with local customs and laws, and secretly served in a GRU Muslim b...

• Marat Ayumov in his youth (played by Berik Aitzhanov) — supporting
• Dinara (played by Karlygash Mukhamedzhanova) — supporting
• Aleksey (played by Ivan Zhidkov) — supporting
• Saule (played by Gulnara Dusmatova) — supporting
• Marat Ayumov's grandmother (played by Natalya Arinbasarova) — supporting
• Sergey (played by Andrey Shibarshin) — supporting
• Andrey Ostrovskiy (played by Denis Nikiforov) — supporting
• colonel-pilot (played by Gosha Kutsenko) — supporting
• Aliya (played by Asha Mataj) — supporting
• Tyutin (played by Sergey Veksler) — minor
• military commission doctor (played by Andrey Smolyakov) — minor
• military doctor (played by Grigoriy Antipenko) — minor
• old shepherd (played by Nurullo Abdullayev) — minor
• Saule in her youth (played by Janel Makazhanova) — minor
• Kara-mayor (played by Arman Asenov) — minor
• soldier (played by Philip Voloshin) — minor
• Talib (played by Vadim Tsallati) — cameo
• producer (played by Farhad Abdraimov) — cameo
• Ablay (played by Dauren Sergazin) — cameo

Story Analysis

A documentary crew journeys through Afghanistan guided by a veteran with a hidden military past and personal motives.

Plot Progression

1. Departure from Almaty
2. Crossing into Afghanistan
3. Unveiling the Past
4. Confrontation and Closure