I Want to Understand (1980)

The Scoundrel

Film exposes the corruption and the decadence of the late Soviet bureaucracy in Azerbaijan SSR through the eyes of a naive Azerbaijani adult man, Hatem.

Arshin Takes a Wife

Set in Baku at the turn of the 20th century, a young successful businessman Asgar wishes to marry. He wants his bride to be the choice of his heart, however, Azerbaijani tradition restricted him from communicating with the lady as a lover before marriage. So Asgar decides to disguise himself as a mere cloth peddler and the young woman Gulchohra falls in love with him.

Nabat

The story is set during an upsurge in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and revolves around an old, sick ex-forestry worker and his wife Nabat, whose son has died in battle.

Tahmina

This Azerbaijani romantic drama depicts the love affair between Zaur, a man from an affluent family, and Tahmina, a divorced woman doing her best to survive in a conservative society.

Another Life

Psychological drama about a university dean who leads a double life.

The Last Mountain Pass

Based on a novel by Farman Karimzade, the movie shows the life in an Azerbaijani village under the Soviet rule in 1930s. Here two former "beys" (land owners) are opposing each other. One is loyal to the ideology of the past and can't reconcile himself to the new power, to second rejects the past and accepts the power of the Bolsheviks, believing that it will establish justice.

The Cloth Peddler

Set in Baku at the turn of the 20th century, a young successful businessman Asgar wishes to marry. He wants his bride to be the choice of his heart, however, Azerbaijani tradition restricted him from communicating with the lady as a lover before marriage. So Asgar decides to disguise himself as a mere cloth peddler and the young woman Gulchohra falls in love with him.

On Distant Shores

The film portrays the life of the legendary Azerbaijani guerrilla of the Second World War Mehdi Huseynzadeh, who fought the Nazi forces in the present-day Italy and Slovenia, hence the film's name On distant shores referring to the Adriatic Sea.

The Labour and Rose

The film is about famous Chechen ballet and folk dancer Mahmud Essembayev's life.

If Not This, Then That

Popularly known by the name of the main character, "Mashadi Ibad" was based on a musical comedy by composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov and written in the early 1900s. The story is based on the age old-theme of a beautiful young woman Gulnaz who falls in love with a young man Sarvar but is obliged to marry someone else.

The Devil under the Windshield

A journalist is investigating a group of poachers who are illegally selling the huge amounts of fish

Pomegranate Orchard

Inspired by Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, the film follows a prodigal son who returns after 12 years. His reappearance at the family home in rural Azerbaijan significantly alters their way of life.

My Seven Sons

This film was based on Samad Vurgun's "Komsomol poem". Seven sons, like seven samurai become the seven komsomols (communist leaders) who were sent to a village to establish Soviet power. Seven sons become the romanticized images of people's heroes ready to take revenge.

The Last Night of Childhood

Murad, a young man fails the entrance exam to the Institute and starts working at the meat factory. His cousin Rustam, a worker on a building site, fights with him against the dishonest people who sell pieces of meat from the factory. After a series of dramatic situations, Murad and Rustam manage to uncover the thieves.

The Silver Truck

Madina is a young married woman who is mentally strong despite the problems she encounters.She has no children and her relationship with her husband is bad, although he loves her.She makes carpets which is a way for her to express her feelings. One day, she meets a man working in a circus. She gets to know him better and becomes transformed by him as he helps her improve her husband and the carpets she creates.

In a Southern Town

Murad, a young man, lives by the old ethical norms that are still valid in the suburbs of his city. He had promised Tofig, his childhood friend, to give him his sister as a wife, but Tofig is in love with another girl. He forgets the promise and takes the girl home. Murad is offended. According to the code of honor, he must take revenge. One of the first films ever produced in the Soviet Union to challenge the sociopolitical establishment.

Two Boys from the Same District

Childhood friends Ahmet and Nuri, the sons of poor farmers, grew up together, studied together, and worked together in a factory. Together, they publish the magazine Light, which opposes the colonial policies of foreign capital and military pacts. After their first imprisonment, the friends' paths diverge: Nuri betrays his convictions and joins a reactionary newspaper. His life is now safe, but he finds no joy or peace. Meanwhile, Ahmet, having become one of the main enemies of the reactionaries, attracts more and more patriots to his side.

Shared Bread

While there is famine during WW2, a boy with mom far away, tries to stay strong.

The Birthday Party

This lyrical psychological film is about true friendship. The characters in the film are contemporaries in of late 1970s Azerbaijan SSR with differing visions of the world, yet sharing true and lasting friendship.

I Want to Get Married

After the story of same name of A.Hagverdiyev. Film is about young man called Shamil. He is not so rich but everybody respects him for his good mood. He fells love with Kembay's (he is richest treader in this town) daughter-Gulsum. But his father doesn't let them to be together.

In Front of a Closed Door

Murad, the favorite of the entire court, has just returned from prison, where he ultimately took the blame for his friend's crime. All this time, his fiancée Gul waited for him, and now they are getting married. Meanwhile, behind one of the doors overlooking Murad's garden, a woman's scream can be heard from time to time, but the neighbors do nothing. Will Murad be able to rise above the general indifference to his neighbor's affairs and help the unfortunate woman?

If We're Together

The film is about the young people just finishing school.

Sound of the Pipe

The novelette was written by I.Huseynov. In the film, the problem of war is viewed from the perspective of love. Almost all of the men of the village are at the battlefront. The women who stayed in the night and day to support their efforts. Children wake up in the middle of the night, crying for bread. All of the villagers feel anxious for the men to return. Mothers are waiting for their sons; wives, for their husbands and children, for their fathers. When Sayali's husband dies at the front, her husband's friend Jabrayil proposes to her. The people of the village are furious. Jabrayil's brothers leave home, convinced that their family has been disgraced. One brother goesw crazy; the other fall ill and dies. The only person who doesn't blame Jabrayil is the "agsaggal" (the wise old man) of the village - Isfandiyar Kishi. In this film, note single sound of weaponry is heard, not are any battle scenes depicted, yet we still witness the inherent tragedy of war.

The Tempestuous Kura

After the novel of the same name of I.Shykhly. The film is about new intelligenzia in Azerbaijan at the beginning of the 20th century.

Find That Girl

Police are conducting a homicide investigation after man dies in car accident.

The Day Passed

The film is about man and woman who remembered their childhood. The film reflects atmosphere of Baku. It is an adaptation of Anar Rzayev's "Georgian surname" novel.

The Road Story

After learning that his daughter is in love with a truck driver, corrupt Housing Office director tries to make use of his service in a last smuggle operation, then break his promise and marry her to someone else. This comedy is mainly about the dark sides of the Soviet bureucracy.

The Dream

A young man tells the dream he had about running away with the daughter of chief of police to his grandma. People spread and exaggerate rumors as if it was a real story until it reaches to the chief himself.

Ulduz

The film is about of village life. After the same name operetta musical comedy.

Stepmother

The film is about the stepmother who tried to be a real mother of a boy. But she could be a real mother only after some difficult events for her and child.

In the Name of the Law

The film is about the public prosecutor who fought against the criminality but was killed by them.

Bakhtiyar

The film is about oilman who had beautiful voice. He didn't attach great importance to his friends is advice to get special music reward. But he changed his attitude to art under the influence of his friends.

The Great Support

After the novellette of the same name of M.Ibrahimov. The film is about a man who trusted his subordinates.

In the Fire

Historical film about the dramatic event in the southern regions of Azerbaijan during the 1917 Soviet Revolution.

The Price of Happiness

Rukhsara and her son Ibrahim are very concerned about the future of their five daughters growing up at home - Gulkhar, Khalida, Sakina, Zohra and Sevinc. Rukhsara's dream is to give each of the girls a dowry, to send them off to their husband's house according to the "rules”, as they say. Ibrahim knows very well that family happiness is not measured by dowry and shiny furniture. However, for the sake of his mother, he tries to earn dowry money for the girls. The sisters also understand that the foundation of happiness is not laid by dowry. If you hold hands with the person you love, you can overcome all the trials of life with confidence...

Sevil

The film takes place in Baku in 1918-19 and then several years later. The film is based on the opera of the same name by Fikret Amirov. Sevil became the first film opera in the history of Azerbaijani cinema.