The day in the small village of Kyzyl-Korgon passes quietly as 18-year-old Akylai rushes to school. Since childhood, she has dreamed of freedom, of the big city. The news catches her right at the doorstep. Her parents announce that everything has already been decided: matchmakers will come for Akylai, her parents have already chosen a groom for her. Life is supposed to change in a second, but on the night before the wedding, an event will occur that will forever change the life of the entire family.

This film was created as part of the 'Alternativa teen lab', curated and produced by Lena Vanina and Kirill Kulagin, a laboratory that helps teenagers talk about complex and pressing issues through cinematography. The film was shown on Rhode Island international film festival (USA), Cinema Love (Uzbekistan), Crossroads (Berlin, Germany), The Female Eye Film Festival and got an award on Directed by Women (Turkey).

For co-director Uuljan Zainidinova, ‘the most important and significant message that we are trying to send to people through our film is how often Central Asian women, who seek freedom of choice in their lives, get mistreated and abused by their own families. In or film, we talk about early forced marriages and reproductive pressure that kyrgyz women often face with. We are trying to represent those women, who have dealt with similar situations and to show them that their story is important, and that they are not alone.’

Co-director Sezimai Mairambek kyzy writes that ‘like our protagonist, I am a dreamer too. Through her, I tried to convey all my feelings and thoughts: the intense conflict between oneself and loved ones, and my own determination to change something. With this story, I loudly proclaim, 'We are free to choose our own path.' Yes, it's scary, yes, it means leaving a lot behind. But it's worth fighting for your destiny, for your happiness.’

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