The Orator (1998)

Set in Uzbekistan during the early twentieth century, The Orator tells the story of Iskander, a simple and kind-hearted cart man who finds himself caught up in the turmoil that follows the October Revolution. The first part of the film takes place in a mythic an idealized Uzbekistan where Iskander lives with his three wives in peace and harmony. Their days are filled with joy and sensual pleasures, living in a veritable Eden despite their poverty. But when revolution sweeps the land, Iskander finds himself hypnotized by the message of radical change being espoused by the communists and eagerly signs on as a public speaker to bring the revolution to the people. But the Uzbeks, rooted in centuries of Islamic tradition are more than reluctant to change their ways, and soon Iskander finds himself disillusioned when politics begin to invade his personal life, and his idyllic home is torn apart. Razykov's film is by turns both whimsical and grim, pulsing with a nostalgia for simpler times. His characters are colorful and bombastic, and he focuses on them and their relationships as opposed to outright politics. In one sub-plot, Iskander is seduced by the party secretary Maryam, who is thrilled by the idea of wearing the pants in the relationship. There is also her sociopathic henchman turned Judas who delights in sadistically tormenting her and Iskander under the guise of revolutionary zeal. Ultimately, The Orator is a love letter to an age long gone, a beautiful and poetic little film about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.