When the Mill Stopped

In his early childhood, Aziz lost his father, and his mother remarried a collective farm miller, Ustozakir. The boy spent all his time at the mill, helping his stepfather, and when he grew older, he completed a driving course. After his mother's death, Ustozakir marries a young woman. When Aziz sees his mother’s jewelry on the bride, he rips it off and runs away from his stepfather's house. After getting a job as a driver, he meets Muhabbat. The young couple falls in love, but their love is hindered by the fact that, according to an old tradition, Muhabbat has been betrothed to Gaib since childhood, and he insists on marrying her. After the girl rejects his official proposal, Gaib attempts to abduct her. However, Aziz and his friends thwart his plans.

Directed by Mukadas Makhmudov, When the Mill Stopped leans on a strong ensemble — Iskandar Abdullaev, Nikolay Badin, Muazzam Ibragimov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about romance titles of 1972.