The space of women's lack of freedom in the cinema of Azerbaijan in 1920s–early 1930s.

The article explores the impact of Soviet propaganda on Azerbaijani cinema in the 1920s and early 1930s, specifically during the transition from avant-garde to social realism. It analyzes three films as case studies: 'In the Name of God' (1925) by A.-M. Sharifzadeh, 'Sevil' (1929) by A. Bek-Nazarian, and 'Ismet' (1934) by M. Mikayilov. The authors discuss the fight against religion as a social institution and the promotion of Soviet ideals to replace customary law (adat). They identify the boundaries of bodily and mental freedom and highlight the lack of freedom experienced by Soviet citizens. The films particularly emphasize women's rights by addressing a breadth of topics, including the role and position of women in family and society, as well as specific plans of action to integrate them into Soviet society. The danger lies in the familiar and everyday aspects of female oppression, originating primarily from the traditional home as the source of authority. A woman's new life begins with a change in her environment and departure from the patriarchal system of interactions. Azerbaijani films reflect both the socio-cultural context and political objectives, aligning with general Soviet policies while also maintaining a distinct national identity that enhances their impact on the local audience.

1. ALEKSANDROV V.G. Epokha i kino [Era and Cinema]. – Moscow: Izdatel'stvo politicheskoi literatury, 1976. – 287 p. (In Russ.).

2. BEK-NAZAROV A. Zapiski aktera i kinorezhissera [Notes of an Actor and Film Director]. – Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1965. – 272 p. (In Russ.).

3. BELODUBROVSKAYA M. Ne po planu. Kinematografiya pri Staline [Not According to Plan: Filmmaking under Stalin]. – Moscow: NLO, 2020. – 264 p. (In Russ.).

4. BRUKHMYULLER M. Kino-promyshlennost' v Azerbaidzhane [Film Industry in Azerbaijan]. IN: Sovetskiy ekran. – 1925. – No 26 (36). – P. 10–11. (In Russ.).

5. BULGAKOVA O. Sovetskoe kino v poiskakh “obshchei modeli” [Soviet Cinema in Search of a “Common Model”]. IN: Sotsrealisticheskiy kanon. – St. Petersburg: Akademicheskiy proekt, 2000. – P. 146–165. (In Russ.).

6. GALSTYAN S. Kinematograficheskoe iskusstvo Armenii. Proshloe i nastoyashchee [Film Art of Armenia. Past and Present]. IN: Istoriya natsional'nykh kinematografiy: sovetskiy i postsovetskiy periody. – Moscow: Akademicheskiy proekt; Fond “Mir”, 2020. – P. 351–383. (In Russ.).

7. KALANTAR K.L. Amo Bek-Nazarov: Iskusstvo kinorezhissera [Amo Bek-Nazarian: The Art of Filmmaker]. – Erevan: Aiastan, 1973. – 183 p. (In Russ.).

8. KAZUROVA N.V. Stolknovenie sovetskoi propagandy i traditsionnogo obraza zhizni v azerbaidzhanskom kinematografe kontsa 1920-kh – serediny 1930-kh godov (na primere rolei I. Orudzhevoi v fil'makh «Sevil'» i «Almas») [The Сlash of Soviet Propaganda and the Traditional Way of Life in Azerbaijani Cinema of the late 1920s-mid-1930s (Case of I. Orujova’s Roles in “Sevil” and “Almaz”)]. IN: Istoricheskiy kur'er. – 2022. – No 5 (25). – P. 103–115. (In Russ.). DOI:10.31518/2618-9100-2022-5-8.

9. KHLOPONINA O.O. Transformatsiya zhenskoi obraznosti v sovetskom kinematografe 1920–1930-kh godov [Transformation of Female Imagery in Soviet Cinema in the 1920s – 1930s]. IN: Znanie. Umenie. Ponimanie. – 2017. – No 2. – P. 140–151. (In Russ.). DOI:

10. 17805/zpu.2017.2.11

11. MAMATOVA L. Mnogonatsional'noe sovetskoe kinoiskusstvo [Multinational Soviet Cinema Art]. – Moscow: Znanie, 1982. – 160 p. (In Russ.).

12. MEKHTI U. Azerkino v poiskakh stoletnei identifikatsii [Azerbaijani Cinema in Search of its Identification]. IN: Istoriya natsional'nykh kinematografiy: sovetskiy i postsovetskiy periody. – Moscow: Akademicheskiy proekt; Fond “Mir”, 2020. – P. 384–414. (In Russ.).

13. Publika kino v Rossii: Sotsialisticheskie svidetel'stva 1910–1930-kh godov [Сinema Audience in Russia: Socialist Evidence 1910–1930s.]. – Moscow: GII, «Kanon+», ROOI «Reabilitatsiya», 2013. – 496 p. (In Russ.).

14. PYR'EV I. O proidennom i perezhitom [About Past and Experienced]. – Moscow.: Soyuz kinematografistov SSSR, Byuro propagandy sovetskogo iskusstva, 1979. – 160 p. (In Russ.).

15. SHATOV L. Natsional'noe kino [National Cinema]. IN: Kino i zhizn'. – 1929. – No 3. – P. 1–5. (In Russ.).

16. SHKLOVSKIY V. Za 60 let: Raboty o kino [In 60 Years: Works on Cinema]. – Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1985. – 573 p. (In Russ.).

17. SMAGINA S.A. “Novaya zhenshchina” v sovetskom kinematografe 1920-kh gg. kak fenomen [“New Woman” in the Soviet Cinema of the 1920s as a Phenomenon]. IN: Vestnik slavyanskikh kul'tur. – 2019. – Vol. 51. – P. 257–266. (In Russ.).

18. SMIRNOV I.P. Videoryad. Istoricheskaya semantika kino [Visuals. Historical Semantics of Cinema]. – St. Petersburg: Izdatel'skiy dom «Petropolis», 2009. – 404 p. (In Russ.).

19. VEITSMAN E. Ocherki filosofii kino [Philosophical Essays on Cinema]. – Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1978. – 232 p. (In Russ.).