Emerald

After graduating from school in his native village, Zumrad goes to Dushanbe to continue his studies at the institute. Soon she becomes the wife of a young professor Kadyrov. But her feudal husband wanted to lock her up in four walls, forced her to leave the institute. And after the birth of his daughter (and not his son), he became rude, insulted and beat his wife. Zumrad left him. After transferring to the correspondence department, she returned to the village. Not everyone welcomed the woman who arrived with a child without a husband. But kind people helped. Zumrad became a foreman, gained authority. She fell in love with her childhood friend Jalil, and he also reciprocates her feelings.

Directed by Aleksandr Davidson, Abdusalom Rakhimov, Emerald leans on a strong ensemble — Tamara Kokova, Stalina Azamatova, Tufa Fazylova — 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 1961.