ON THE NIGHT OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE
ON THE NIGHT OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE (Ay Totolgan Tonde), a tragedy. Written in 1963 by M.Karim. The play consists of three acts. In the tragedy, the issue of internal human freedom trying to manifest itself is presented and the idea of spiritual liberation and protest against the canons of the patriarchalclan system is carried out. According to the custom, Akyeget should marry to the widow of his older brother Shafak, and his beloved Zubarzhat must marry 11yearold Ishmurza. But the heroes do not want to obey the laws of levirate. The mother of Akyeget, Tankabika – domineering head of the family – is powerless before the court of elders expelled Zubarzhat and Akyeget in the desolate steppe. Literary translation into Russian was done by Ya.A.Kozlovsky. The performance premiered on March 21st, 1964 at the Bashkir Drama Theatre (directed by Sh.M.Murtazina, playwright by G.Sh. Imasheva, composer Kh.F.Akhmetov). The performance was awarded the K.S.Stanis lavsky State Award of RSFSR (1967). In 1978, a feature film was made at the Sverdlovsk film studio (directed by B.Ts.Khalzanov, script by V.I.Valutsky).
