Zare (film)

The film depicts the life of the Kurds in the Caucasus and their resistance against imperial Russian authorities. One Kurdish tribe, led by Mejid-agha, has set up camp on the slopes of Mount Ararat and Mount Alagyaz. Under Mejid-agha’s rule, the tribe faces hardship, exacerbated by the oppressive and reckless Timur-bek, who imposes heavy taxes. Timur-bek falls in love with Zare, the fiancée of a shepherd named Saydo. When Zare’s father rejects Timur-bek’s proposal, he vows to eliminate Saydo.

Amidst the turmoil, Kurdish "involunteer" units are being formed under Russian pressure. Saydo, coerced by Timur-bek, joins but later deserts to be with Zare. During a battle with servants of a local lord who attack Zare’s family, Saydo is severely wounded. In his absence, Timur-bek kidnaps Zare. At their wedding, Zare publicly humiliates Timur-bek by slapping him, an act considered intolerable among Kurds. In retaliation, Timur-bek falsely accuses Zare of infidelity at the wedding feast. Ostracized and cursed, Zare finds solace only in Saydo. Together, they abandon their tribe to seek a new life among free people and build a future of happiness.

• Maria Tenazi as Zare
• Hrachia Nersisyan as Saydo
• Avet Avetisyan as Slo
• Olga Gulazyan as Lyatif Khanum
• Manvel Manvelyan as Msto
• Nina Manucharyan as Nano
• Hambartsum Khachanyan as Khdo
• M. Garagash as Temur-Bek
• Aram Amirbekyan as Clerk
• Sh. Guramashvili as Police-officer
• Amasi Martirosyan as Zurba
• M. Aghamalov as Sheikh
• N. Barres as Head of Uezd
• N. Aghambekyan as Zare's girlfriend
• S. Gevorgyan as Zurba's wife

• Kurdish cinema