Unhappy Groom

Synopsis

Unhappy Groom (2023) explores Turkestan’s past through the history of Uzbekistan at the dawn of the 20th century, during the rule of the Russian Empire. The film highlights the contrast between ancient religious thought and the governmental incompetence of imperialist regimes. Amidst these tensions, two lovers face the difficulties of a life marked by social conventions, heresies and ambiguous traditions. In parallel, the drama of Salih, a salaried actor, is affected by the inability to meet the ambitious demands of Rahima’s family in order to marry her. This narrative strikingly reflects the parallels with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where despite the lovers’ attempts to remain aloof from social scrutiny, they cannot avoid their toxicity.