Chadra

“Chachvon (Rus. Chadra or Chachvan, Uzb. Chochvon) by Mikhail Averbakh (Uzbekkino, 1928)Gulbibi Haidarova (S. Askarova), a feminist activist, and Suleyman (Suleyman Khojaev), an electrical engineer, return to the country after having studied in Moscow to put the education they have received into practice. Gulbibi works at the women’s club and comes to the assistance of poor Lola (Pavlova-Marozova). After losing her husband, Lola was given in marriage by her mother to the rich bai Haidar (G. Chechelashvili), becoming his third wife. She has been dreaming of emancipation when she hears the speech of another delegate at the women’s club, Halima Niazmatova (Kh. Fish). The bai’s first two wives also happen to be present, and they tell their husband of Lola’s desire for emancipation. Haidar decides to exorcize his wife of the “red devil” and calls on a traditional healer (azaimkhon) to do so. The exorcism takes place with several dervishes, and the azaimkhon tries to chase the evil spirit by whipping Lola. Halima witnesses this scene and alerts Gulbibi and Suleyman, who arrive with the militia. Lola is taken far away from her husband and, after convalescing, leaves to study in Moscow. When she returns to Uzbekistan, the emancipation campaign (hujum) is in full swing. But to take his revenge Lola’s former husband asks men to abduct her while she is resting at the women’s club. Halima notices her disappearance and alerts Gulbibi and Suleyman. With the help of the militia, they pursue Haidar’s men and save Lola once again. Life returns to normal. Suleyman goes back to work at the waterworks, Halima starts working as an intern in the cinema studios while the hujum carries on. Women march with banners proclaiming “Long live the liberated Orient, long live liberated women,” while Haidar looks on disapprovingly from behind the bars of his prison.”