STARS OF THE STEPPE

THE FILMS

Voiz / ORATOR
Uzbekistan 1998
Direction: Yusup Razikov. Screenplay: Yusup Razikov. Cinematography: Ulugbek Chamraev. Editing: Olga Morova. Sound: Vjacheslav Shin. Music: Dmitri Yanov-Janovskij. Cast: Bachodyradylov, Lola Altojeva, Asal Alichodijeva. Production: Uzbekkino.
35mm Color 85min

The action begins in 1915, in Tashkent. Iskander is a successful tradesman. Although he always thought he would marry for love, he eventually marries for pity, buying an orphan girl from a gang of criminals during one of his journeys. After returning home with his young wife, he discovers that in the meantime his brother has died and, in accordance with Moslem law, he must take his brothers two wives into his care. So now Iskander finds himself with three wives. The October Revolution brings new confusion into IskanderΥs life: the new Bolshevik laws clash with the Moslem ones, and he is unable to keep all three wives. He seeks help from some Bolshevik friends and is convinced by them to join the Party and work as an orator, that is, a crowd agitator, something Iskander turns out to be good at...