This essay explores Shum Bola (1978), an Uzbek film adaptation of G’afur G’ulom’s earlier Soviet-era novella, through the lens of childhood, discipline, and moral development. Focusing on the character of Qoravoy, it examines how mischief functions as both survival and resistance in a world governed by unspoken rules. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s theory of discipline and power, the analysis reflects on how the boy’s personal growth mirrors broader cultural tensions around obedience, identity, and social learning in Soviet-era Central Asia.
By Guzal Koshbahteeva
This essay explores Shum Bola (1978), an Uzbek film adaptation of G’afur G’ulom’s earlier Soviet-era novella, through the lens of childhood, discipline, and moral development. Focusing on the character of Qoravoy, it examines how mischief functions as both survival and resistance in a world governed by unspoken rules. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s theory of discipline and power, the analysis reflects on how the boy’s personal growth mirrors broader cultural tensions around obedience, identity, and social learning in Soviet-era Central Asia.