COMRADE BOYKENJAYEV

On an official trip, a high-ranking Russian functionary jokes about a cemetery where Uzbeks, Russians, Jews and Muslims can rest eternally side by side. Just as he has uttered this idea, he dies of a heart-attack – leaving the local politicians with the task of executing what they take for his “last wish”. They leave the matter to Boykenjayev, a small-time comrade who – up to this point – was only called upon to play Lenin at parades, cry on command or hand out presents at the orphanage where he grew up. He has 45 days to complete this task and attacks it vigorously – showing a dedication and energy that allow him to overcome all bureaucratic hurdles. For a while, everybody contributes to the star-shaped cemetery. When it is finished, Boykenjayev sets out to find a deceased person who can be buried at the grand opening. It must be a fellow Uzbek – but none of the families want their kin to be interred at the new site, preferring a traditional funeral and creatively keeping the corpses at arm’s length from Boykenjayev. Still determined to honourably finish his task, Boykenjayev can only think of one solution… O’RTOK BOYKENJAYEV is a darkly humorous satire on Uzbekistan’s socialist past.