A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan

(A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan)

Zere is a rebel, stirring the stagnant waters of Kyrgyz patriarchy. Through her music and public performances, she exposes the alarming state of girls’ and women’s rights in a country where they are expected to sit quietly in the corner.

When nineteen-year-old Zere Asylbek releases a provocative music video demanding respect for those long disadvantaged by local culture, it sparks a fierce backlash in conservative Kyrgyzstan. The film follows her journey from pop singer to outspoken civic activist in a country where bride kidnappings, domestic violence, and the social silencing of half the population remain all too real. Zere faces threats, public shaming, and accusations that she seeks to destroy “traditional values” and serve foreign interests. Yet she refuses to stay silent. This intimate documentary captures the collision of personal courage with a repressive system, showing how music can create space for social change in a fragile democracy.

Right to Know

Lifestyle Women's rights

Basic information about the film

Title	A Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan
Original Language	English, Kyrgyz, Russian
Znění	original audio, children’s films dubbed in Czech
Subtitles	Czech subtitles, select films have descriptive Czech or English subtitles (look for the accessibility icons next to each screening)
Premiéra	Czech premiere
Film type	Full-length documentary
Year of Production	2025
Country of Origin	Switzerland
Length	65 min.
Director	Leigh Iacobucci
Sales	Leigh Iacobucci leigh.iacobucci@gmail.com