Fearless (1971)

Bez Strakha (Without Fear) is one of the most important films in the history of Uzbek cinema as it tackled the critical issue of women's liberation.It was directed by Ali Khamrayev,a veteran filmmaker from Uzbekistan whose contemporaries included great Russian directors like Andrei Tarkovsky and Sergei Paradzhanov.This black and white film transports us to Soviet times in 1920s when all republics of the former Russian state were under the harsh rule of communist party.It is during such a period that an officer of Red Army is sent to a village in Uzbekistan to modernize the region and its people.He is unaware of the fact that his arrival would cause many heads to swing in disbelief as the clash between ancient and modern is inevitable. On the one hand,one gets a chance to see simple folks from traditional families who vehemently oppose any kind of change in their beliefs, customs and traditions.On the other hand there is an honest Red Army officer who would like to improve the condition of women and children. By making "Without Fear",Uzbek director Ali Khamrayev has rendered an excellent service to world cinema by portraying difference of ideologies.